[Original Title.]
THE VNION
at THE
TWO NOBLE AND ILLUSTRE FAMELIES
LANCASTRE & YORKE,
BEETNO LONG IH CONT.NUAL B.SCENS.ON FOR THE CROUNE OF TH,S NOBLE REALME,
WITH AIL THE
ACTES DONE IN BOTHE THE TYMES OF THE PRINCES,
EOTHE OF THE ONE LINAGE AND OF THE OTHER,
BEGINNYNG AT THE TYME OF KYNG HENRY THE FOWERTH,
THE FIRST AUCTHOR OF THIS DEUISION,
AND SO SUCCESSIUELY PROCEADVNO TO THE REIGNE OF THE HIGH AND PRUDENT PRINCE
KYNG HENRY THE EIGHT,
THE VNDUBITATE FLOWER AND VERY HEIRE OF BOTH THE SAYD LINAGES.
1548,
HALL'S
CHRONICLE;
CONTAINING
THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
DURING
THE REIGN OF HENRY THE FOURTH,
AND THE
SUCCEEDING MONARCHS,
-s
TO THE
END OF THE REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH,
IN WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
OF THOSE PERIODS.
CAREFULLY COLLATED WITH THE EDITIONS OF 1548 AND 1550.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNE; WILKIE
OBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND <
CADELL AND DAVIES; AND J. MAWMAN.
1809.
FOR j. JOHNSON; F. c. AND j. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNE; WILKJE ~ J/
AND ROBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND ORMJE; <\ / 1 0
Dfl
G . Woodfall, Printer."
Paternoster-row.
f TO THE
MOST MIGHTIE, VERTEOUS AND EXCELLENT PRINCE
EDWARD THE SIXT,
BY THE GRACE OI GOD,
KYNG OF ENGLAND, FRAUNCE AND IRELAND,
DEFENDOROFTHE CATHOLIKE FAITH, AND VNDER GOD SUPREME HED, OF
THE CHURCHES OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND. YOUR MOSTE HUMBLE SUB-
IECT EDWARD HALLE, WISSHETH HEALTH, HONOR, AND FELICITIEj
the cancard enemie to Fame and renoune the suckyng serpet of
auncient memory, the dedly darte to the glory of princes, and the defacer of
all conquestes and notable actes, so muche bare rule in the firste and seconde age of
the worlde, that nothyng was set out to mennes knowledge ether how the world
was made either howe man and beastes wer created, or how the worlde was de-
stroyed by water til father Moses had by deuine inspiracio in the third age, in-
uented letters, the treasure of memorie, and set furth fiue notable bokes, to the greate
comfort of all people liuyng at this daie. Likewise Mercurie in Egipte inuented
letters and writyng, whiche Cadmus after brought into Grece. So euery nacio
was desirous to enhaunce lady Fame, and to suppresse that dedly beast Obliuio.
For what diuersitie is betwene a noble prince & a poore begger, ye a reasonable man
and a brute beast, if after their death there be left of theim no remembrance or token.
So that euidently it appereth that Fame is the triumphe of glory, and memory by
litterature is the verie dilator and setter furth of Fame. How muche therfore are
princes, gouernoures, and noble menne bounde to theim whiche haue so huely set
furth the hues and actes of their parentes, that all though thei bee ded by mortall
death, yet thei by writyng and Fame liue and bee continually present. If no man
had written the goodnesse of noble Augustus, nor the pitie of merciful Traian,
how shoulde their successours haue folowed ther steppes in vertue and princely
qualit.es: on the contrarie parte, if the crueltie of Nero, the vngracious life of Ca-
ligula had not beene put in remembrance, young Princes and fraile gouernors might
likewise haue fallen in a like pit, but by redyng their Vices and seyng their mische-
1 ueous
VI
ueou.s ende, thei bee compelled to leaue their euill waies, and embrace the good
qualities of notable princes and prudent gouernours : Tims, writyng is the keye to
enduce vertue, and represse vice : Thus memorie maketh menne ded many a thou-
sande yere still to Hue as though thei wer present ; Thus Fame triumpheth vpon
death, and renoune vpon Obliuion, and all by reason of writyng and historic.
Alas my soueraigne Lorde, my herte lamenteth to knowe and remembre what
rule this tyrante Obliuion bare in this realme, in the tyme of the Britons. For from
the first habitacion of this land, no man of the Britons either set furthe historic of
their begynnyng, or wrote the hole liues of their princes & kynges, excepte Gildas
whiche inueighed against the euill doynges of a fewe tyrantes and euill gouer-
nours. In so muche that Cesar writeth, that when he was in this realme, the people
could not tel their linage, nor their begynnyng. ^ But one Geffrey of Monmothe
a thousand yere and more after lulius Cesar, translated a certayn Britishe or Welshe
boke, conteinyng the commyng of Brute with the sequele of his linage, tnl the
tyme of Cadwalader, whiche Britishe boke if it had slept a litle lenger, Brute
with al his posteritie had ben buried in the poke of Obliuion, for lacke of writyng.
The strong Saxons, after thei had gayned this lande, set vp the biiner of Fame,
and had their liues notably writte by diuerse and sundery famous clerkes, euen
from their firste entery into this lande, till the firste Monarchy, and so successyuely.
In the Normans tyme, many notable woorkes hath been set furthe, some of one
prince perticulerly, & some of mo : So that in fine, all the stories of kynges, from
kyng Willyam the firste, to kyng Edward the third, bee set furthe at length by
diuerse authours in the Latin toungue, as by Matthewe of Paris sometyme religious
in saincte Albons and other. After whome lohn Frossart wrote the liues of kyng
Edward the third, and kyng Richard the seconde, so compendeously and so largely,
that if there were not so many thynges spoken of in his long woorkes, I might be-
leue all written in his greate volumes to bee as trewe as the Gospell. But I haue
redde an olde Prouerbe, whiche saithe, that in many woordes, a lye or twayne sone
male scape. Sithe the ende of Frossarte whiche endeth at the begynnyng of kyng
Henry the fourthe, no man in the Englishe toungue, hath either set furth their ho-
nors accordyng to their desertes, nor yet declared many notable actes worthy of
memorie dooen in the tyme of seuen Kynges, wliic*he after kyng Richarde suc-
ceded : Excepte Robert Fabian and one with out name, whiche wrote the common
English Chronicle, men worthy to be praysed for their diligence, but farre shptyng
wide from the butte of an historic.
Wherefore moste drad and benigne souereigne Lord, lest cancarde Obliuion
should
Vll
*.*
should deface the glory of these seuen Princes, to whom you be of all sides lineall
heire and very inheritour, I haue compiled and gathered (and not made) out of
diuerse writers, as well forayn as Englishe, this simple treatise whiche I haue na-
med the vnion of the noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke, conioyned together by
the godly mariage of your moste noble graundfather, and your verteous grand-
mother. CFor as kyng henry the fourthe was the beginnyng and rote of the great
discord and deuision : so was the godly matrimony, the final ende of all discen-
cions, titles and debates. \
Besechyng your highe Maiestie, to take this my simple and rude woorke, accord-
yng to your accustomed goodnesse in good part, not regardyng the thyng, but my
good will to my natiue countree, whose fame for lacke of writyng may muche be
darkened and defaced, and thus I pray to the celestmll Lorde to send you victorie
ouer your enemies, Peace with your confederates, loue of your subiectes : and in
conclusion, perpetuall ioye & eternall fehcitee.
RICHARD GRAFTON TO THE READER,
I must craue of the most gentle reader, charitably to iudge of me the imprinter
of thisworke, if ought herin shalbe sene vnto the of purpose to bee omitted either
not sufficiently delated and set furth, or elles somethyng to playnly spoken, in the
which might be noted affeccion, that thou wilt excuse me therin, for I professe
that I haue as nere as in me lay, nether altered nor added any thyng of my selfe
in the whole woorke, otherwise the the aucthor writ the same. But this is to be
noted, that the Aucthor therof, who though not to al me, yet to many very wel
knowe, was a man in the later tyme of his lyfe not so paynfull and studious as be-
fore he had ben : wherfore he perfited and writt this historic no farther then to the
foure and twentie yere of kyng Henry the eight : the rest he left noted in diuers and
many pamphletes and papers, whych so diligently- & truly as I coulde, I gathered
the same together, & haue in suchewise compiled them, as may after thesaied yeres,
apere in this woorke : but vtterly without any addicion of myne. Therfore my re-
questand desyr as aforesaied,is, that thou wilt truly and charitably iudge me: And so
sone as my leasure will serue, for thine ease & ready fyndyng of any thyng herein
conteyned I purpose to gather an exact table of the whole woorke.
IF The
The names of the aucthors aswell Latin as other, out of the
whiche this worke was first gathered, and after compiled and
conioyned.
LATIN AUCTHORS. FRENCHE AUCTHOR.S.
Polichronicon. Enguerant de Munstrellet.
Cronica Cronicarum. lean Buchet.
/- •' -' " • .' .
Nauclerus. lean Mayer de Beiges.
Polidorus. Argenton.
Paulus ^Emilius. La Mere dez Histories.
Voluteranus. Les annales de Fraunce.
Gauguinus. Les annales de Aquitayne.
Albertus Krantz. Les Croniq ; de Britayne.
Michael Ricius. Giles Corozett.
Hector Boetius. Les Croniques de Normandi.
loannes Maior. Le Rosarie.
Abbas Wyssenbergensis. Le genolagie des Roys
Carion.
Supplementum Cronicarum.
Gesta Tholosanorum.
Cronica Brabancie.
ENGLISHE "WRITERS.
Treuisa. Ihon Hardyng.
Fabian. The Chronicles of London.
Sir Thomas Moore. Ihon Basset.
Caxton. Balantyne.
And out of other diuers Pamphlettes, the names of whom are to moste menne vn-
knowen.
The names of the histories coteigned in this Volume.
An introduccion into the deuision of the two houses of Lancastre and Yorke.
i. The vnquiet tyme of kyng Hery the Fowerth.
ii. The victorious actes of kyng Henry the v.
iii. The troubleous season of kyng Henry the vi.
iiii. The prosperous reigne of kyng Edward the iiij.
v. The pitifull life of kyng Edward the v.
vi. The tragicall doynges of kyng Richard the iij.
vii. The politike gouernaunce of kyng Henry the vij.
viii. The triumphant reigne of king Henry the viij. FINIS.
1F An
AN INTRODUCTION
INTO THE HISTORY OF
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE.
WHAT mischiefs hath insurged in realmes by intestine deuision, wiiat depopulacion
"Tfath ensued in countries by ciuil! discencio, what detestable murder hath been
comitted in citees by seperate faccions, and what calamitee hath ensued in famous regios
by domestical discord & vnnaturall controuersy : Rome hath felt, Italy can testifie,
Fraunce can bere witnes, Beame can tell, Scotlande maie write, Denmarke can shewe,
and especially this noble realme of Englande can apparantly declare and make demonstra^
ci-on. For who abhorreth not to expresse the heynousf factes comitted in Rome, by the
ciuill war betwene Julius Cesar and hardy Popey by_j^^h^ejdisc_orde^ tJ3,e__brig]it glory of
the triuphant Rome was eclipsed & shadowed ? $hp can reherce what mischefes and what
plages the pleasant countree of Italy hath tasted and suffered by the sedicious faccions of
the Guelphes and Gebelynes ? Who can reporte the misery that daiely hath ensued in
Fraunce, by the discorde of the houses of Burgoyne and Orliens : Or in Scotland betwene
the brother and brother, the vncle and the nephew ? \J^ic>. can curiously endite the inani-
folde battailles that were fought in the realme of Beame, betwene the eatholikes and the
pestiferous sectes of the Adamites and others? WJtiat damage discencion hath clooen in
*~~*^ ^^~^ O - — - i --- i • i ui •••ay~||~"
iG_e£rnan^^_nj^J^jirnarke, all Christians at this daie can well declare. And the Turke can
bere good testimony, wfiiche by the discord of christen princes hath amplified greatly His ,
seigniory and dominion. yBut what miserie, what murder, end what execrable plagues this
famous region hath suffered by the deuision and discencion of the renoumed houses of
La.ncas.tre. and YorkeJjny witte cannot comprehende nor .my toung declare nether yet iny
penne fully set furthe.J
FOR what noble man liueth at this daie, or what gentleman of any auncient stocke or
progeny is clere, whose linage hath not ben infested. and plaged with this vnnaturall dcui-
^IPJlh-. All the other discordes, sectes and faccions almoste liuely florishe and continue al
this presente tyme, to the greate dieplesure and prejudice of all the Christian publike welth.
But the olde deuided controuersie betwene the fornamed families of Lacastre aild Yorke,
by the vnion of Matrimony celebrate and consummate betwene the high and mighty Prince
Kyng Henry the seuenth and the lady Elizabeth his moste worthy Quene, the one beeyng
indubitate heire of the hous of Lancastre, and the other of Yorke was suspended and ap-
palled in the person of their moste noble, puissat and mighty heire kyng Henry the eight,
and by hym clerely buried and perpetually extinct. So that all men (more clerer then the
B sonne)
i
/
V.. i
•
8( AN INTRODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
sonne) male apparantly perceiue, that as by discord greate thynges decaie and fall to ruine>
so the same by concord be reuiued and erected. In likewise also all regions whiche by
deuisio and discencion be vexed, molested and troubled, bee by vnion and agrernent
releued pacified and enriched.
BY vnion of the Godhed to the manhod, manne was ioyned to God whiche before by
the temptacion of the subtle serpente, was from hym segregate and deuided. By the vnion
of the catholike churche and the outworne sinagoge, not only the hard ceremonies and dedly
peines of the Mosaicall law wer clerely abholished and made frustrate, but also Christian,
libertie is inferred and Christes religion stablished & erected. By the vnion of man &
woman in the holy Sacrament of Matrimony the generacion is blessed, and the synne of
the body clene extincte & put awaie. By the vnion of manage, peace betwene realme and
realme is exalted, and loue betwene countree and countree is norished. By coniunciS of
matrimony, malice is extinct, amitie is embraced, and indissoluble aliance and consanguinite
is procured.^VThat profile, what comfort, what ioy succeded in the realme of England by
the vnion of tRe fornamed two noble families, you shall apparantly perceiue by the sequele
of thjsjiu^^iid_vj]]ejaj^e^mtoryJ.>Cdnd because there can be no vnion or agrement but
in respect of a diuision, it is consequent to reso that I manifest to you not onely the
originall cause and foutain of the same, but also declare the calamities, trebles & miseries
whiche happened and chaunced duryng the tyrne of the said contentious discencionTj
FOR the whiche you shall vnderstande (accordyng as it is in an Acte of Parhamente
made in the firste yere of the reigne of Kyng Edwarde the fourthe specified and declared.)
Ti>e lyne That the highe and mightie Prince kyng Henry the third of that name, had issue Edward
He*rynfhe his firste begotten sonne borne at Westminster the eleuenth Kalendes of luly in the vigile
third. of Saincte Marke and Marcilian in the yere of our Lorde a thousande twoo hundrd. xxix.
And Edmonde his seconde begotten sonne borne oh the dayc of saincte Marcell in the
yere of our Lorde a thousande twoo hundred, xlv. Whiche Edwarde after the death of
king Henry his father, was entitled and called kyng Edward the first, and had issue his first
begotten sonne entitled and called after the death of kyng Edward his father, kyng Edward
the second, which had issue the right noble and honorable prince kyng Edward the third
whiche kyng Edward had issue Edwarde his first begotten sone prince of Wales, Willya of '
Hatfeld the second begotten sonne, "Lionell duke of Clarence the. iij. begotten sonne, Ihon
of Gaunt duke of Lancaster the. iiij. begotten sonne, Edmond of Langley duke of Yorke
the.'v. begotten sonne, Thomas of Wodstocke duke of Glocestre the. vj. begotten sonne,
and Willyam of Wynsor the. vij. begotten sonne. The saied prince Edward died in y life
of his father kyng Edward the. iij. & had issue Richard borne at Burdeaux, whiche after the
death of kyng Edward the. iij. as cosin and heire to hym, that is to saie sonne to the saied
Edwarde prince of Wales sonne to the saied kyng Edward the thirde succeded hym in
royall estate and dignitee, lawfully entitled and called kyng Richarde the seconde and died
without issue, Lionell duke of Clarence the third begotten sonne of the saied kyng Edward
the third, had issue Philippe his only doughter whiche was maried to Edmond Mortymer
erle of Marche and had issue Roger Mortymer erle of Marche : whiche Roger had issue
Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche, Anne and Elienor, whiche Edmond and Elianor died
without issue. And the saied Anne was maried to Richard erle of Cambrige sonne to
Edmond of Langley duke of Yorke the fifth begotten sonne of the said kyng Edwarde the
thirde whiche Richarde had issue thee famous prince Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke
whiche had issue that noble prince kyng Edward the fourth father to Quene Elizabeth vnited
in matrimony to the high and sage prince kyng Henry the. vij.
If Ihon duke of Lancastre had issue Henry erle of Darby, and Ihon erle of Somersette.
This Henry eile of Darby had issue, kyng Henry the fifth father to kyng Henry the sixte
whiche begat prince Edwarde that was slayne at Tewkesbury, and diseased without issue.
Ihon the erle of Somersette before named, sonne to Ihon duke of Lancastre, engendered
Ihon duke of Somersette father to the lady Margarete Countes of Richemonde mother to the
noble
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE. 3
noble and haute Prince Kyng Henry the seuenth whiche espoused lady Elizabeth the heire
of the "lustre family of Yorke, by the whiche manage the deu.se , or badge of the hous ot
Lan astre whiche was the redde Rose, was vnite and loyned with the white Rose whiche
iL the cognisance and ensigne of the noble progeny ot Yorke, as by the genealogy con-
-*ei«ned in the ende of this woorke more plainly shall appere.
f This aforenamed Henry erle of Darby beeyng created alitle before duke of Herfforde,
.-anrudente and police persone, but not more politike then welbeloued and ye : not .so
welbeloued of all, as of some highly disdayned, began to confer with bymsel how that
kyng Richarde his eosyn germaine was now brought to that trade of liuyng that he htle or
nothyn* regarded the counsaill of his vncles, nor of other graue and sadde persones, but
<HdalUhyn* at his pleasure, settyng his will and appetite in stede of lawe and reason.
wtereforye o°n a daie beeyng in the compaigny of Thomas Mowbrey hrste duke of Norffolke
and erle Marshall, beganne to breake his mynde to hym more for dolour and lamentac.on
An for malice or displeasure, rehersyng howe that kyng Richarde htle estemed and lesse
regarded the nobles and Princes of his realme, and as muche as laie in hym soughte occa-
sions inuented causes and practised priuely howe to destroye the more part of the.m : to
some thretenyng death, to other manacyng exile and banishment forgettyng and not remem-
brvn* what blofte it was to his honor, and what detnmente and damage it was to the publike
wealfhe to suffre his realme to lose the aunciente fame and pnstmate renoume by his
sloutha'nd negligence, and that all thynges bothe in the tyme of peace and also of warre,
aswellin the realme as without, waxed worsse and worsse, and had neuer prosperous
successe nor fortunate conclusion. And because noble menue murmured, and the conion
people grudged, and all menne wondered at his vnprincely doynges, he desired the duke of
Noklke, whiche was one of the kynges priay counsaill and well heard with hym, to adu.se
the kyn« to turne the lefe and to take a better lesson. When the Duke of Norffolke had
heard fully his deuise, he toke it not in good parte, but rekened y he had gotten a praie
bv the whiche he should obtayne greater fauor of the kyng then euer he had, ano so he at
that tyme dissimuled the matter (as he was in deede bothe a depe dissimuler and a
pleasaunte flaterer.) And after when he had oportunite and sawe his tyme, was very glad
fas tell tales and scicophantes bee, when thei haue any thyng to instill in to the eares and
heddes of Princes) to declare to the kyng what he had heard, and to agrauate and make
the offence the greater, he muche more added but nothyng diminished.
« This matter somewhat quickened and more tikeled the waueryng rayed of kyng Richard,
.and brought hym into a great fury. But when the water of fumitory was well disgested in
his stomacke, he determined to here bothe the parties indifferently, and called to hym the
duke of Lancastre and his counsaill, and also the dukes of Herftorde and Norffolk, & caused
the accuser to report opely the worries' to him declared, whiche rehersed tueim again as
he had before related to the kyng. [When Duke Henry heard the tale otherwise reported
then he ether thought or saied, somewhat vnquieted for the noue tie of the^thyng, or
troubled wi£7nieltor-thevntruth of the matter, stode stil & paused a good while lokyng
5nJBay>5lhTEH^ a good corage to hym, makyng low obe.sace
besought his highnes lo^coceiue no mistrust in" hym til he had seen & herd more. Ihen
turnvno hymself to his accuser, declared worde by worde what he had said shewyng the
causi & occasion why he so spake, deniyng fiersly al the other new muecions a leged &
proponed to his charge : affirmyng y if the kyng would permit & suffre hym he would proue
his acusor vntrue, vniust & afalse forger of lies & sedicious tales by the stroke of a spere
& del of a swerd. The duke of Norffolke affirmed constantly his saiyng to be true &
refused not the cobate. The kyng demaunded of them if thei would agre betwene them-
selfes, whiche thei both denied and threw doune their gages, by my truth q the kyng, it_you
of vourselfes will not agre I will not study how to agre you: and then he grauted the the
battail! & assigned the place to be at the citee of Couentree in the moneth of August next
ensuyng, where he caused a supteous theatre and listes royal gorgeously to be prepared.
AN INTRODUCTION INTO THE HISTORY OF
of his brother the duke of Glocestre, to spoyle and robbe the soonne of his other brother.
For he before this tyme asmuche as his pacience could beare, did tollerate and suflfre the
deathe of his brother, the exile of his nephiew, and an hundred mo injuries, whiche for the
itie and youth of the kyng, he remitted and sepulted in obliuion. And therefore con-
sidering that the glorye of the publique wealthe of his natiue countree was like to apall by
reason that the kyng was not moste ingenious, & had no manne nere hym that would
boldely admonishe hym of his office & duetie, thought it the acte of a wise man in tyme
to get hym to a restyng place, and to leaue y foloyng of suche a doubtfull capitain whiche
with a leade sworde would cut his owne throte bolle. Wherfore he with the duke of
Aumarle his soonne went to his house at Langley reioysyng that there was nothyng in the
common wealthe mishappened either by his deuice or concent, daiely empioryng aide of
almightye God to deuerte from kyng Richarde the darke clowde whiche he sawe depend-
yng ouer his hed.
In this ceason kyng Richard sailed into Irelande as diuers authores testifie, but what he
did there is no parte of my processe, whiche dependeth on the sequeie of this deuisio.
While king Richard was in Irelande, the graue persones of the nobilitee, the sage prelates
of the clergy y sad tnagestrates & rulers of the citees, tounes & commineltie perceauyng
daily more £ more the realme to fall into ruyne and desolacion (in mauer irrecuperable as
long as kyng Richard either liued or reigned,) after long deliberacion, wrote into Fraunce
.to duke Henry, whom thei nowe called (as he was in deede) duke of Lancastre and Herf-
ford, solicityng and requiryng hym w,ith all diligente celeritee to conueighe hym self into
Englande, promisyng hym all their aide, power and assistence, if he expellyng kyng
llichard as a manne not mete nor conueniente for so princely an office and degree, would
take vpon hym the sceptre rule and diademe of his natiue countree and firste nutntiue
soyle. And for that cause thei sente the reuerent father Thomas Arundell archebisshop
,of Cauntorbury with certein lordes and citezens of diuerse citees and buroghes in habite
palliate and dissimuled, into the citee of Paris, some goyng one waie and some another, but
all assemblyng together at the house of Clugny where the duke then soiourncd. VI hen he
sawe the archebisshop his especiall frend and looked on otlier his fautoures and lowers, if
be thanked God, no manne oughte to maruell, if he welcommed these ambassadors no
creature can wondre; but if he reioyced and applauded not at their accesse and commyng,
wise menne maie thynke folie & fooles maie laugh hym to skorne. When he was of them
saluted, and thei of hyrn not onely resaluted but heartely welcommed & frendely euter-
teyned. The archebisshop desiryng the duke to absent all other persons than suche as
wer his copanions, eaied these or like wordes to hymA.
An oracion When your louyng and naturall kynsmen and patricians moste noble and mightie prince,
ThomLy had muche and long tyme considred and debated with theiselues of their affaires and
Arundeii busines in this tempesteous world and ceason (in the whiche no manne of our nacion is
bishoppeof sure of his life, nor enioyeth his landes and seigniories withoute dreade nor possedeth his
Cauntorbu- niouables without terrour or feare, whiche outragious dooynges many yeres occupied hath
dukerf?ry brought the publique wealthe of our aboundat countree almoste to wrecke and vtter exter-
Laucaster. minion) their last ankerholde refuge and conforte was to studye and inuestigate howe to
haue a gouernour and ruler whiche should excell and florishe in wisedome, policie and
justice aboueall other. By whiche reason a greate nombre of the nobilitee and in maner
all the comminaltie, beyng led and persuaded (whe thei had well cast their iyes and marked
all the peres and nobles of the realme of Englande) thei could fynde no duke, nor marques,
no erle nor other potentate within all the realme, to whose empire and authoritye thei
would bee subiect and vassalls so gladly as to yours. For this I assure you (and you
knowe it aswell as I) that wee miserable subiectes haue so long borne the yoke of waton
vnwitty kyng Richard, and haue paciently tollerate the pernicious persecucion of his gredy
and auaricious councellers, and haue wynked at the pollyng and extorcion of his vnmeasur-
able officiers, that oure backes bee so galde that we can- no more suifre, and our chynne
6 bones
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHS.
bones so weake that wee can no lenger cary. And thcrfore necessitee and not will, reason__
and not affeccion, constancy and not leuytie enforceth vs to implore and desire youre aide
and comforte, to whom wee bee sent by the moste part of the nobilitee and also of the
more parte of the vniuersall comminaltie, to desire and require you to take vpon you the
high power, gouernaunce and sceptre of your natiue countree and paternall inheritaunce,
and the same to gouerne, rule and defende accordyng to your approued wisedome and long
experimeted pollecie, whom wee haue euer knowen to bee of that Justice, of that prudence
and of that integritee that you will commaunde, admonishe or attempt eny thyng whiche
shall not bee iust, honest and laudable. Whiche request if you well considre and diligently
pondre preuely with yourself, you shall facilye perceaue that nothyng more profitable, more
honest, or more glorious can by eny waies happen or chaunce to you then to accepte and
concorde to the same. For what can you more expecte and wishe, then to commaude and
dooe all thynges accordyng to right, reason and honestie ? Wee offre not to you golde,
siluer, perle or precious stone, but p_ur countree, qur bodies, goodes and vs all to vse as
youres and not as cures, desiryng you to geue to vs in recompence, indifferecy quietnes
and peace, and to restore to her seate and trone again, the lady iustice, whiche hath so long
been banished out of our nacion, to thentent that wise, sage and good persones (whose
desire and appetite is euer to Hue well) maie honour, loue and embrace you as a gouernour
and kyng sent from God, and that malicious and obstinate persones (whose conscience is
grudged with daily offences, and whom the feare of iustice and ponishement dooth continu-
ally vexe and perturbe, fearyng you as the skourge and plague of their facinorus dooynges
and mischeueous actes) maie either sone amende, or shortely auoyde your countree and
region. Nowe occacion is offred, refuse it not, by the whiche your wisedome, pollecie and
valiantnes shall apere to the vniuersall worlde, by the whiche you shall not onely bryng vs
into an vnitie and monacord, but also represse all sedicion and cancard dissimulacion : then
the noble men shall triumphe, the riche men shall liue without feare, the poore and nedy
persones shall not bee oppressed nor confounded, and you for your so doyng, shall obtein
thankes of your creatour, loue of your people, fauour of your neighboures, fame and
honoure sempiternall. _TWhe the bishop had ended, the duke pawsed awhile, and then put
of his hood and saiedT]
My lorde of Cauntourbury and you my other frendes and louers, your commyng to vs Theau
is verie pleasaunt, but more ioyous is your message, for wee of our owne naturall disposi-
cion for the good will and synguler aft'eccion that you haue euer borne to vs, haue loued,
embraced and highly estemed you and all your dooynges. Surely we would you knewe ^n,n
with what sorowe and agony of mynde wee haue borne your vexacions, calamities and Wfho
oppressions (as for the manifest iniuries and opprobrious offences dooen and committed C"torbur3'-
against vs as you knowe well inough, wee wolle not speake at this tyme) of the whiche wee
estemed oure selfe a partener, as a thyng common betwene vs. TTor as it is heard that
the hed shall not feele when the hand or eny other meinbre is greued or sickeA so it is
vnlike that eny displeasure or discommoditee should happen to you with whiche wee
should not taste in parte, suche vicinetie is emong membres, and suche communitie is
emong frendes. tJVherfore, neither for atnbicion of worldly honour, nor for desire oF
Empire or rule, or for affeccion of worldly riches and mucke of the worlde, we wolle agree
to your peticio, but onely to relieue your miserable calamitie, to restore iustice to her
auncient rome & preheminence, & to defend the poore innocet people from the extorte
powre of the gredy cormerates & rauenous oppressours, requiryng you to ioyne with vs &
we with you in aduaucyng forward this our incepted purpose & pretesed entrepricel
When the duke was condiscended to the bishoppes request, the bisshop and his complices
departed into Englande, makyng relacion to their confederates of the dukes agremet and
pleasure, exhortyng euery manne to be prest and ready at his arryuall.
After their departure, the duke fayned to the Frenche kyng that he would go into
Brytein to visite his frende duke Ihon of Brytein. The Frenche kyng tbynkyng him to
meane
AN 1NTUODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
meane inwardly as he outwardly dissimuled, -sent' to the duke of Brytein letters of com-
niendacion in fauour of the duke of Lancastre. But if he had knowcn that his entent was
to transfret -into Englande and depose his soonne in lawe kynjg Richard, he would surelj
haue stopped hym a .ty.de, and let his purpose and passage. ' What should I_jJaie ? tliat
-aJialbe. The duke passed into Brytein and there condu^e3~~anch'wagcd
certeync menne of warre and shippes, and with good wynde and better spede sailed in to
Englad and landed at Rauespurre in holdrenes as moste wryters affirme. But some sale
that he landed at Plynimoth, and other at Portesmouth, but where soeuer he^arryued, sure
it is that he tooke lande peaceably without any againsaie or interrupcion. (I will not bee
tedyous to you in rehersy tig 'howe the erles of Northumbrelande and Westmerlancfe, ~fKe
lordes Percy, Rose, Willoughby and other resorted 'to hym, and'taking an othe of hym that
he should not dooe to kyng Richard any bodelye harme, and made to hym homage and
became his liege men. I omit howe children applauded, howe wemen reioyced, and howe
inenne cryed oute for ioye in euery toune and village where he passed. I j^limjuishe
farther the concourse of people, the number '• of horses, whiche occurred to hym as he
journeyed toward London, reioysyng at his repaire and commyng to the Citie. Ijviljiot
speake of the procession and singing of the Cleargie, nor of the pleasant salutacibns nor
eloquent oracions made to hym by the Prelacie, nor of the presentes, welcomynges, laudes,
gratificacions made to hym by the citiesens and comminaltee of the citie of London, but I
wil go to the purpose. Whe he was come to London he consulted with -his frendes diuers
v _dayes, to whome came Thomas Earle of Arundell sone to Richard of ArundelLby kyng
Richard a litell afore put to deathe, whiche had lately escaped out of prison. /When the
Duke had perceaued the fauour of the \$6bilitie, the affection of the Cleargie and the
sincere loue of the comminalte toward e hyrh and his procedynges, he marched foreward
with a greate company toward the West coflntrey, and in passyng by the waie, the people
assembled in great and houge multitudes^as the nature of the common people is, euer
desirous of newe Changes) callyng him their UVng, deprauyng and railyng on kyug Richard,
as an innocent a dastarde, a meicocke and n6pworthy to'beare the name of a kyng. When
he had assembled together a conuenient nomber of people for his purpose and was clerely
determyned to depose kynge Rycharde from his rule and dignitie, he proclaimed open
•warre agaynst hym and all his partakers fautours and frendes. 'Kyng Richarde toeyng in
Irelande was certified of the Dukes arriuall, from whence (when he had pacified the
sauage and wilde people) he retourned agayne into England, entending to resiste and
defend the eminent peril and apparant ieopardy, and for the more tuicio and safegard
entred into the strong caste! of Flinte in North Wales, x. myles distaunt from Chester. J
en kyng Richard perceued that the people by plumpes fled from him to Duke Henry,
he was amased and doubted what councell sodeinlie to take, far on the one part he sawe his
title iust, trewe, and vnfallible, and beside that he had no small truste in the Wfclshemen,
his conscience to be cleane rjm-e imjcaajjulate without spot or enuy : on the other side, he
sawe the puissaunce^of~his aduersaries, the soda!*) departyng of them that he niooste
trusted, and all thynges turned vpsydoune, with thAr^binges he beyng more abashed then
encouraged, compelled by necessitie, determined tcMyfoe hym selfe in that castell till he
xnyghte see the worlde stable and in more suretieT""fFor nowe he euidentely espied and
manifestly perceaued that he was lefte, lowted and forsaken of theym by whom in tyme he
myght haue bene ayded and relieu-ed, and whiche nowe was to late and to farre ouerpassed :
and this thing is worthy to be noted with a whitestone, of al princes rulers and men set in
auctoritee and rule, that this Duke Henry of Lancastre shoulde be thus called to the
kyngdome and haue the healpe and assistence all most of all the whole realme, whiche
perchaunce neuer thereof once thoughte or yet dreamed : and that kyng Richard shuld thus
be lefte desolate void and desperate of all hope and comforte, in whom if there were any
^offence, it ought more to be imputed 'to the frailtee of his wanton youth then to the ma'lice
of his heart or cankerdnesse of his stomacke, but suQhe is the frayle iudgement of mortall
men
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE. 9
men whiche vilcpendyng and not regardyng thynges presente before their eies, do euer
tliincke all thynges that are to come to haue a prosjper^nsjaccejsejuida jlelectablesec[uejen
When the Duke of Lancastre knewe that king Riclia7def"was coime~to the~castel oTFlinte,
whiche a man maye call the dolorous Castell, because there king Richarde declined from
his dignitie and lost the tipe of his glorie and preheminence, he assembled together a great
armie in small space lest he myght geue his .enemies time- to preuent his purpose and so to
lose the good occasion of victory to him geuen, came to the towne of Bristowe where he ^ '
apprehended Willyam lord Scrope the kinges treasurer sir Iho Busshe and sir Henri Grene
knyghtes, and caused their heddes to be striken of, and from thence toke his iourneie directly
to Chester. When Thomas Percy Earle of Worceter and great Master or lord Stuard of
•the kynges houshold beyng brother to the Earle of Northumberland hard tell of the dukes
approch, bering displeasure to the king because he had proclaimed his brother a trailer,
brake before al the kinges houshold his white staffe, which is the ensigne and token of his
office and without delay went to duke Henry. Whe the kinges familier seruitours per-
ceiued this, they dispersed them selfes some into one countrey and some into another.
If The Duke came toward the castell of Flinte wherof king Richard beyng aduertised by
councell of Ihon Pallet and Richarde Seimer his assured seruauntes departed out of 'the
castell and toke the sandes by the ryuer of Dee trusting to escape to Chester and there to
haue refuge and succoure, but or he had farre passed he was forelayed and taken and
brought to the Duke, which sent hym secretly to the Towre of "London. When the Duke
had thus possessed his longe desyred praye, he came to London in solempne estate and there
called a Parliament in the kynges name, to the whiche many of the kynges frendes, but more
of his there appeared. There was declared howe vnprofitable kyng Richarde had bene to
the realme duryng his reigne, howe he subuerted the lawes, polled the people and ministred
Justice to no man but to suche as pleased hym. And to the entent that the commons should
bee perswaded that he was an vniust and vnprofitable Prince and a tiraunte ouer his sub-
iectes, and worthy to bee deposed. There were set forthe. xxxv. solempne articles very
heynous to the eares of men, and to some almost vncredible : The very effecte of whiche
articles I will truely reporte hereafter accordyng to my copie.
^[ Fyrst that kyng Richard wastfully spent the treasure of the realme and had geuen the \\
possessions of the Croune to men unworthy, by reason wherof daily newe charges more and
more were layd in the neckes of the poore comminaltie. And where diuerse lordes as well
spiritual as temporall, were appointed by the highe court of Parliament to comonand treate
of diuers matters concernyng the common wealth of the same, which beyng busie about the
same commission, he with other of his affinitie went about to empeach of treson, and by 3.
force and menace compelled the Justices of the realme at Shrewsburie to condiscend to his
opinion, for the destruction of the said Lordes: in so muche that he began to reise war 3.
against Ihon duke of Lancastre, Thomas Erie of Arundell, Richarde Erie of Wanricke, and
other lordes contrary to his honour and promyse.
If Item that he caused his vncle the Duke of Glocester to be arrested without lawe, and 4.
sent him to Caleis, and there without iudgemente murdered hym. And although the Erie
of Arundell vpon his arainement pleaded his charter of pardon, he could not be heard, but
was in most vile and shamefull maner sodainly put to death.
^[ Item he assembled certain Lancashire and Cheshire men to the entent to make warre 5.
on the foresaid Lordes, and suffered them to robbe and pill without correction or reprefe.
If Item although the king flateringly and with great dissimulacion made proclamacion 6.
throughout the realme, that the lordes before named were not attached for any crime of
treason, but onely for extorcions and oppressions done in this realme, yet he laied to theym
in the parliament, rebellion and manifest treason.
If Item he hath compelled diuers of the saied lordes seruauntes and frendes by menace & 7.
extreme paimentes, to make great fines to theyr vtter vndoyng. And notwithstandyng his
pardon to theim graunted yet he made them fine of newe.
C Item
10 AN INTRODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
8. If Item where diners were appointed to common of the estate of the realme, and the com-
, mon welthe of the same. The same king caused al the rolles and recordes to be kept from
them, contrary to his promise made in the parliament, to his open dishonour.
9. 1f Item he vncharitably comaunded that no man vpon paine of losse of life and goodes
should once entreate him for the retourne of Henry nowe duke of Lancastre.
10. H Item where this realme is holden of God, and not of the Pope or other prince, the
said kyng Richard after he had obteined diuers actes of parliament for his owne peculiar
profile and pleasure, then he obteined Dulles and extreme censures from Rome, to compell
al menne straightcly to kepe the same, contrary to the honour and auncient priuileges of
this realme.
11. If Item although the duke of Lancastre had done his deuoir against Thomas duke of Nor-
ffolke in profe of his quarel, yet the saied kyng without reason or ground banished him the
realme for ten yeres contrary to all equitee.
12. If Item before the dukes departure, he vnder his brode scale licenced him to makeattour-
neis to prosecute and defend his causes: The saied kyng after his departure wold suffre none
attourney to apere for him but did with his at his pleasure.
13. If Item the same kyng put oute diuers shriues lavvefully elected and put in their romes,
diuers other of his owne minions subuertyng the lawe contrary to his othe and honour.
14. «f Item he borowed great somes of money, and bound him vnder his letters pattentes for
the repaimet of the same, & yet not one peny paid.
15. If Ite he taxed men at the wil of him & his vnhappy councel, & the same treasure spentin
folie, not paiyng pore men for their vitail & viande.
16. ^f Item he said that the lawes of the realme were in his head, and som time in his brest, by
reason of whiche fantasticall opinion, he destroied noble men and empouerished the pore
commons.
17. *fj Item the parliament settyng and enacting diuers notable statutes for the profile and ad-
uauncemenl of the common welth, he by his priuie frendes and soliciters caused to be enacted
that no acte then enacted shuld be more pieiudiciall to him than it was to any of his pre-
decessors, through whiche Prouiso he did often as he liste and not as the lawe ment.
jg. If Ite for to serue his purpose he wold suffer the Shrefes of the shire to remaine aboue
one yere or two.
]<)_ ^ Item at the sommons of the parliament when knightes and burgesses should be electc
that the election had bene full proceded, he put out diners persones elected, and put in
other in their places to serue his wyll and appetite,
go. If Item he had priuie espialles in every shire, to here who had of him any communica-
cion, and if he commoned of his lasciuious liuyng or outragious doyng, he streighte waies
was apprehended and made a greuous fine,
21. ^[ Item the spiritualtie alledged againste hym that he at his goyng into Ireland exacted
many notable somes of money, beside plate & iuels, without law or custome, contrary
to his oth take at his coronacio.
22. f Item when diuers lordes and Justices were sworne to say the truthe of diuers
thinges to them committed in charge both for the honor of the realme and profile of
the kyng, the said kyng so menaced theym with sore thretenyngcs, that no man wold or
dursle sale the ryght.
23. f Item that with out the assent of the nobilitee, he caried the iewels and plate and
treasure ouer the see into Irelande, to the great empouerishyng of the realme. And al
the good recordes for the comon welthe and against hie extorcions, he caused priuely to be
embesiled and conueied away.
34.. H Item in all leages and letters to bee concluded or sent to the see of Rome or other
regions : His writyng was so subtill and so darke, that no other prince durst once beleue
him, nor yet his owne subiectes.
K Item
A •
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE.
f Item he mooste tirannously and vnprinccly said that the Hues and goodes of al his 25.
subiectes were in the princes bads & at his disposicio.
>fl Item that he contrary to the great Charter of England caused dyucrs lustie men to 26.
appele diuers olde men, vpon matters determinable at the common law, in the court -martial,
because that in that court is no triall br.t onely by battaile : Whervpon the said aged per-
sonnes fearyng the sequele of the matter submitted theym selfes to his mercy whom lie fined
and raunsomed vnreasonably at his pleasure.
5f Item he craftely deuised certain priuie othes contrary to the lawe, & caused diuers of 27.
his subiectes first to be sworne to obserue the same and after bounde them in bondes for
former keping of the same, to the great vndoyng of many honest men.
f Item where the Chauncellour accordyng to the lawe woulde in no wise graunt a 28.
prohibition to a certain person : the king graunted it vnto the same person vnder his priuie
scale with greate thretnyngcs if it shuld be disobeied.
f Item he banyshed the l>ishop of Canterbury without cause or iudgement and kept him 29..
•in the parliament chamber with men of Armes.
^f Item the bishops goodes he graunted to his successour vpon condition that he shuld 30.
mainteine al his statutes made at Shrewsburie, Anno. xxi. and the statutes made. Anno,
icxii. at Couentree.
f Item vpon the accusation of the Archbishop, the king ceaftely perswaded the saied 31.
byshop to make no answere, for he would be his warrant, and aduised him not to come to
the parliament. And so withoute answere he was condemned and exiled, and his goodes
seazed.
These bee the articles of any effecte whiche were laied against him, sauyng fowre concern-
~yng the bishoppe of Caunterbury, whiche onely touched hi, but his workyng vnwrought king
Richard fro his croiie.
AND for as much as these articles, and other heinous and detestable accusations were
laied against him in the open parliamentjTn was thought by the most parte that kyng Richard
was worthy to be deposed of al honor, rule and Pryncely gouernanceTj And instruments
..autentike and solempne to depose, and other instrumentes were madeTo certain persons for
them, and all homagers of the realme to resigne to hym all the homages and fealties dewe
to him as kyng & soueraigne.
But or this deposition was executed in tyme, he came to Westminster and called a great
councell of all the nobilitie and commons to the entente to conclude and make expedition
of all thynges whiche before were purposed and set forward.
If In the meane season diuerse of king Richardes seruauntes which by licence had accesse
to his person, comforted, animated and encouraged him beyng for sorowe withered, broken
and in maner halfe deade, aduertisyng and exhortyng him to regard his welthe and to saue
his lyfe. And firste they aduised him willyngly to suffer him self to be deposed bothe of
his dignitie, & dcpriued of his riches: so that the duke of Lancastre might without murdre
or battail obteine the scepter and Diademe, after the whiche they well percciued he gaped
and thrubted by the mene wherof they thought he shuld be in perh't assurance of his life
long to continue, & therfore might commit him selfe to good hope, which is the best felowe
& companio that a man in aduersitie can associat or ioyne him self withal. FSurely this
councel was both good and honeste in so great an extremitie, but yet the full effect folowed
not as the sequele of the thyng sheweth and apparantely declarethT^f What profite, what
honoure, what suretie had it bene to kyng Richarde, if he when he myght, whiche professed
the name and title of a kyng, whiche is as much to saie, the ruler or keper of people, had
excogitate or remebrcd to haue bene a keper of his owne hedde and lyfe, whiche nowe be-
yng forsaken, reiect and abandoned of al such as he, being an euil sheperd or herdeman,
before time did not plie, kepe and diligently ouerse was easily reduced and brought into the
hades of his enemies. Nowe it was no mastery to perswade a man beyng desperate pensife
and ful of dolour, to abdicate him selfe from his empire and imperiall preheminence : so that
C 2 in
12 AN INTRODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
in onlie hope of his life and sauegard, he agreed to al thynges that of hym were demanded,
and desired his kepers to shewe and declare to the duke, that if he wold vouchsafe to accord
and cotne to hym, he wolde declare secretely thynges to hyrn both profitable and pleasant.
His kepers sent word of all his saiynges to the duke, whiche incontinent repaired to his cham-
ber. There kyng Richard comoned with him of many thingcs, and amongest all other affirmed
those accusacions to be to muche trewe whiche the cornminaltie of the realme allcdged
against him : that is to say, that he had euel gonerned his dominion and kingdome, and
therfore he desyred to be disburdened of so great a charge and so heauy a burdein, besech-
yng the Duke to grant to him the safegarde of his lyfe, and to haue compassion of hym,
nowe as he before that time had bene to him bountifull and magnificent.
^f The duke biddyng him to be of good comfort and out of fear warranted him his lyfe, so
that he wold resigne to him his scepter croune & dignitie : also nether to procure nor consent
to any thyng or act whiche myght be hurtfuil or preiudiciall to his person or succession, to
the whiche demaundes he graunted and frely condiscended and agreed.
THE Duke of Lancastre the nexte daie declared al kyng Richardes hole mind to the
coucel, but especially to his vncle Edmunde duke of Yorke (whose helpe he much vsed)
whiche hearyng al thynges to be in a broyle, a fewe daies before was come to London. The
nobles and commons were well pleased that kyng Richard shoulde frankely and frely of his
owne mere mocion, whiche they much desired (lest it shuld he noysed and reported that
he therevnto were inforced and by violence constrained) resigne his croune and depart from
his regalitee. <
Not long after he caused a great assemble to be apointed at the Towre of London, where
kyng Richard appareled in vesture and robe royall the diademe on his head, & the scepter
in his hand, came personally before the cogregacion and said these wordts in eftecte. I
Richard king of England Duke of Fraunce, Aquitaine, and Lorde of Ireland, cont'essc and
say before you my lordes and other our subiectes, that by the hole space of. xxii. yere in the
whiche 1 haue obteined and possessed the rule and regiment of this famous realme of Eng-
land, partely ruled and misauised by the euell & sinister councell of peruerse & flatteryng
persons : and partely led by the frailtie of young waueryng and wanton youth, and with
delectacion of worldly and volupteous appetite, haue omitted and not executed my royall
office and bounden dutie accordyng as I oughte to haue dooen, in ministeryng iustice and
prefermente of the comon wealthe, whiche negligence I more than any of you as I thynke
my selfe, doo sore repente and bewayle, and specially because I am brought to this poyncte,
that I knowledge and confesse my self, not worthy longer to reigne nor to haue any farther
rile. So that now I can nother amende my misdedees, nor correcte my offences whiche suerly
I entended to dooe, and especially in my olde age, in the whiche euill thynges be accustomed to
be amended, and the fautes and offences of youth, to be corrected and reformed. For what
young man comonly can be founde indued with so muche vertue and so good qualities, whiche
agitate & pricked with the heate of youth, shall not turne and decline from the right pathe
and direct waie, and yet when he cometh to the more ripenes of yeres and greate grauitie,
doth not amend and change into better his olde errates and wanton actes, for experience
teacheth, that of a rugged colte, commeth a good horse, and of a shreude boye, proueth a
good man. But sithe Fortune doth not permit and suffre me so to do, to thentent that the
publike welth of this realme maie bee holpen and auansed by my rneane, and after this not
like again to declyne and decaye. And to the intent that it shall bee lefull to you, to elect
and chose my cosyn germayne, Henry duke of Lancastre, a man mete for a realme, and a
prince apt for a kyngdom, to your kyng and souereigne lorde. I of my owne mere mocion
and frewill, do putte and depose my self out of all royall dignitie, preheminence and softerai-
gnitee, and resign the possession, title and vse of this realme, with all rightes there vnto
apperteigyng, into his handes and possession. And then with a lajnj;njteble_voyce and
a sorowfull countenance, deliuered his sceptre and croune to the duke of Ltmcastre,
requiryng euery persone seuerally by their names, to graunte and assente that he might
Hue
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ.
Hue a priuate and a solitarie life, with the swetnesse whereof, he would be so well pleased,
that it should be a paine and punishement to hyin to go abrode, and deliuered all the
' goodes that he had, to the some of three hundred thousande pounde in coyne, beside plate
and iuels, as a pledge and satisfaccion, for the iniuries and wronges by hyra committed and
dooen. But what soeuer was promised, he was disceiued. For shortly after his resigna-
-cion he was conueighed to the castell of Ledes in Kent, & from thence to Poumffret wher
be departed out of this miserable life, as you shall heare herafter.
f THE VNQUIETE TYME OF KYNG HENRY
THE FOURTHS,
WHEN the fame was dispersed abrode that Kyng Rycharde had putte hymselfc from The-1-y*re<
his dignitee royall, and resigned his scepter and diademe imperiall, Henry Planta-
genet borne at Bolyngbroke in the Countie of Lyncolne, duke of Lancastre and Hertford
erle of Derby, Lecester and Lyncolne sonne to Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lancastre, with
one voyce bothe of the nobles and comons, was published, proclaymed & declared kyng of
England and of Fraunce, and lorde of Irelade, and on the daie of saincte Edward the con-
fessor, was at Westminster with great solemnitee and royal pompe, sacred, enoynted and
crouned king by the name of kyng Henry the fourth. •' But who so euer reioysed at this
coronacion, or whosoeuer delighted at his high promocio, suer it is that Edmond Mortimer
erle of Marche whiche was heire to Lionell duke of Clarence, the thirde begotten sonue of
kyng Edwavde the third as you before haue heard, and Richard erle of Cabrige the sonne
to Edmond duke of Yorke, whiche had maried Anne sister to the same Edmonde, wer
with these doynges neither pleased nor contente. In so muche that nowe the diuisio once
beyng begon, the one linage persecuted the other, and neuer ceased till the heircs males
of bothe the lines wer by battaill murdered or by sedicion clerely extincte and destroyed.
At the daie of the coronacion, to thentent that he should not seme to take vpon hym the
croune and scepter royall without title or lawfull clayme but by extorte power and iniurious
intrusion, he was aduised to make his title as heire to Edmonde, surnamed or vntruly fayncd
Crouchcbacke, sonne to kyng Henry the third, and to saie that the said Edmon4was elder
brother to kyng Edward the first, and for his dcformitee repudiat and put by from the
croune royalf to whom by his mother Blanche doughter and sole heire to Henry duke of
Lancastre, he was next of bloud and vndoubtfull heire. But because not onely his fredes
but also his priuy enemies knewe, that was hut a title and that this title was by inuentors
of mischief fayncd, imagened & published and wer surely enformed not only that the said
Edmond was younger sonne to kyng Henry the third accordyng as it is declared in the act
of Parliament before recited. Also hauyng true knowledge that Edinod was nether Croke-
backed nor a deformed persone, but a goodly gentil man and a valiante capitain, and
so muche fauored of his louyng father, that he to preferre hym to the manage of the Qliene
dowager of Nauerne hauyng a greate liuelode, gaue to hym the countie paliityne of Lan-
castre with many notable honours, high seigniories and large priuileges. Therefore thei
2 aduised.
14 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
aduiscd hym to make some other clayme to the 'newe obteined regiment, and so caused it
to be proclaimed and published that he chalenged the realme not onely by conquest, but also
-because he was by kyng Richard adopted as heire, & declared successor & of hym by re-
signacion had accepted the croune and scepter, & also that he was the next heire male of
the bloud royall to kyng Richard.
After that he was crouned, he created his eldest sonne lorde Henry, Prince of Wales,
duke of Cornwale, and erle of Chester, then beeyng of the age of. xij. yeres. This solenite
finished, he called his high court of parliament, in the whiche it was demaunded by the
.kynges frendes what should be doen with kyng Richard. The bishop of Carleile whiche
was a man both wel lerned & well stomacked rose vp and said. My lordes I require you
take hede what answere you make to this question. For I thynke there is none of you
worthy or rnete to geue iudgemente on so noble a Prince as kyng Richard is, whom we haue
taken for our souereigne and leige lorde by the space of. xxij. yeres, and I assure you, there
is not so ranke a tray tor, nor so arrante a thiefe, nor so cruell a murderer, \\hiche is appre-
hended and deteigned in prisone for his offence, but he shall bee brought before the iustice to
heare his iudgemente, and yet you will proceade to the iudgemente of an anoynted kyng, and
here nother his answere nor excuse. And I saie that the duke of Lancastre whom you call
kyng, hath more offended & more trespassed to kyng Richard and this realme, then the
kyng hath other doen to hym or to vs. For it is manifestly knowen that the duke was
banished the realme by kyng Richard and his counsaill, and by the iudgemente of his owne
father, for the space of tenne yeres, for what cause all you knowe, and yet without license of
Kyng Richarde he is returned again into the realme, ye and that is worse, hath taken vpon
hym the name, title and prehemience of a kyng. And therefore I say and affirme that you
do apparently wrong, and manifest iniury to precede in any thy ng against kyng Richard,
without callyng him opely to his answer and defence. When the bishop had ended, he
was incontinent by therle Marshall attached & committed to ward in the Abbey of. S.
Al bones.
5f And then it was concluded, that kyng Richard should continew in a large prisone, and
should bee plentifully serued of all thynges necessarie bothe for viande and apparell, and
that if any personcs would presume to rere warre or congregate a multitude to releue or
tleliuer hym out of prisone, that then he should bee the first that should dye for that sedici-
ous commocion. In this Parliamente the Lorde Fitzwater appeled the duke of Aumarle of
high treason, and offered to fight with hym in listes royall. Likewise the lorde Morley
uppeled therle of Salisbury, and there were more then. xx. appellantes which waged battaill
in this parliamente. But the kyng pardoned all their offences sauyng the fautes of the lorde
Morley and therle of Salisbury, whom he comitted to ward, and after at the request of their
fredes, their offences wer remitted & thei deliuered. He punished also extremely all suche
as were priuie and dooers of the homecide of Thomas his vncle late duke of Glocester,
whiche was shamefully murdered before in y toune of Caleis. Besides this, he auansed his
frendes, and called out of exile Richard erle of Warwike, and restored the exile of Arun-
delles sonne to his owne possession and dignite, and many other. He toke into his speciall
fauor Ihon Hollande duke of Exceter and erle of Huntyngdone halfe brother to king Rich-
ard, whiche had espoused the lady Elizabeth his owne sister. And beeyng before capitain
of Caleis, greatly moued and inwardly greued that Kyng Richarde his brother was amoued
out of the seate royall, began to reyse and stirre vp newe mocions and sedicious faccions
within the realme. Werfo^e to aduoyde suche pestiferus dangers, the newe kyng recociled
hym to .his fauor, and made hym as he surely conjectured his perfite frende, where in
deede he was inwardly his dedly enemie. In this parliament wer adnichilate al the actes
passed in the parliament holden by kyng Richard in the. xxj. yere of his reigne, whiche
was called the euill parliament for the nobilitee, the worse for the menaltie, but worste of all
for the c5manaltee. JFor in that parliament, will ruled for reason, men aliue were con-
demned without examinacion, men dedde and put to execucid by priuy murder wer
adiudged openly to die, the hie prelate of the realme without answere was banished :
6 An
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 15
An erle arraigned could not be suffered to plede hs pardon, and consequently one
counsailer did al thyng, and all counsailers did nothyng, affirmyng the saiyng of Esope,
whiche hearyng his feloe to saie that he could do all thynges, saied he could do nothyng.
When he had thus reconciled his nobilite, and gat the fauor of the spiritualte and wonder-
fully pleased the comonaltee, but not so muche pleasyng .them, as the possessyng of the
croune pleased hymself and his frendes, he of them and by the fauor of them bothe, for
the auoydance of al claimes, titles and ambiguitees to be made vnto the croune and diademe
of the realme had his dignitee ligne and succession enacted, confirmed and entayled by the
assent of the high courte of Parliamente as foloweth worde by worde.
" At the request and peticion aswell of the nobilitie as of the comons in this parliamente
assembled, it is ordaigned and established that the enheritance of the crounes and realmes
of Englande and of Fraunce, and of all other lordshippes to the kyng. our souereigne lorde,
aswel on this side the seas as beyond apperteignyng with their appurtenaces, shall bee vnited .
and remain in the persone of our souereigne lorde the kyng, and in the heires of his body
lawfully begotten. And especially at the request and assent aforsaid, it is ordeigned, estab-
lished, pronounced, enacted, writen and declared, that my lorde Prince, Henry eldest sonne
to our soueraigne lorde the kyng, shall bee heire apparante and successor to our saied
souereigne lorde in the said croune, realmes £ seigniories, to haue £ enioy them with al
their appurtenaunces after the discease of our saied soueraigne to hym and the heires of his
body begotten. And if he die without heires of his body begotte, that then the saied
crounes, realmes and seigniories with their appurtenances shal remain to the lorde Thomas,
secod sonne to our said soueraigne lorde and to the heires of his body begotten, .and if he
departe without issue of his body begotten, all the premisses to remaigne to lorde Ihon his
third sonne and to the heires of his body begotten. And if he dye without issue, then the
crounes, realmes, £ seigniories aforesaied with their appurtenances shal remain to the
loi de Humfrey the. iiij. sonne to our said souereigne lorde, and to the heires of his body
lawfully begotten."
After whiche acte passed, he thought neuer to bee by any of his subiectes molested ori
troubled. £But O Lord, what is the mutabilitee of fortune ? O God what is the chaunge
of worldely safetie ? O Christe what stablenes consisteth in mannes prouision ? Or what
ferine suerty hath a prince in his throne and degree ? Considryng this kyng hauyng the
possession of the croune and realme, and that in open parliament, agreed to by the princes,
concliscended to by the Clerkes, ratified by the commons, and enacted by the three estates
of the reaune, was when he thought hymself surely mortised in a ferme rocke £ immouable
foundacion, sodainly with a trimbelyng quickesande £ vnstedfast grounde like to haue sonke
or been ouerlhrowen. For diuerse lordes whiche wer kyng Richardes frendes, outwardly
dissiivuled that whiche thei inwardly conspired and determined, to confounde this kyng
Henry to whom thei had bothe sworne allegance and doen homage, and to erect again and
set vp their old lorde and frend kyng Richard the second.
In this case there lacked only an orgaine and conueighance bothe how secretly to serche
and knowe the myndes of the nobilitee, as all so to bryng them to an assemble and counsail,
where thei might consult and comen'together, how to bryng to efficacite and effect, their
long desired purpose and secrete enterprise. fSeJioJK-thgjhe deuill is as ready to set furth
mischief, as the good angell is to auance vertuej At this time was an Abbot in Westminster,
a man of aparant vertues. professyng openly Christ, Christian Charitee, and due subieccion
and obeisance to his prince : whiche Abbot hearyng kyng Henry once saie when he was but
erle of Darby and of no mature age or growen grauitee, that princes hud to litle, and
religeons had to muche, imagined in hymself that he now obteinyng the cronne of the
realme, if he wer therin a long continuer, would remoue the greate beame.that then greued
his iyes and pricked his conscience. For you muste vnderstande that these monasticall per-
sones, lerned and vnliterate, better fed then taught, toke on the to write £ regester in the
boke of fame, the noble actes, the wise dooynges, and politike gouernances of kynges and {
princes
f
THE FIRSTE YERE OF
princes, in whiche cronographie, if a kyng gaue to them possessions or grauntcd them
liberties or exalted them to honor & worldly dignitee, he was called a sainct he was praised
without any deserte aboue the Moone, his geanelogie was written, and not one iote that
might exalt his fame, was ether forgotten or omitted. But if a Christian prince had touched
their liberties or claimed any part Justly of their possessions, or would babe intermitted in
their holy francheses, or desired aide of the against his and their comon enemies. Then
tonges talked and pennes wrote, that he was a tirant, a depresser of holy religion, an enemie
to Christes Churche and his holy flocke, and a damned and accursed persone with Dathan
and Abiron to the dope, pitte of helle. Wherof the prouerbe bega, geue and be blessed,
take awaie and bee accursed. Thus the feare of lesyng their possessions, made them pay
ycrely annates to the Romish bishop: thus the feare of correccion and honest restraint of
libertee, made them from their ordinaries, yea almoste from obedience of their princes to sue
dispensacions, exempcions and immunitees.
THIS Abbot that I spake of whiche could not well forgette the saiyng of kyng Henry,
and beyng before in greate fauor and high estimacion with kyng Richard called to his hous
•n a daie in the terme season al suche lordes & other persones whiche he ether knewe or
thought to be as affeccionate to kyng Richarde, and enuious to the estate and auancement
of kyng Henry, whose names wer, Ihon Hollande duke of Exceter and erle of Huntyngdon,
Thomas Hollande duke of Surrey and erle of Kent, Edward duke of Aumarle and erle of
Rutland sonne to the duke of Yorke, Iho Montagew erle of Salisbury, Hugh Speser erle of
•Glocester, Ihon the bishop of Carleill, sir Thomas Blount and Magdalen one of kyng
Hicfeardes chapell, a man as like to hym in stature and proporcion in all liniamentes of his
body, as vnlike in birthe dignitee or condicions. This Abbot highly fested these greate
lordes and his speciall frendes, and when thei had well dined, thei all withdrew thernselfes
into a secrete chamber and sat doune to counsail, when thei wer set, Ihon Hollande duke of
Exceter whose rage of reuengyng y iniury doen to kyng Richard was nothyng mitigate nor
mollified, but rather encreased and blossomed, declared to theim their allegeance promised,
and by othe confirmed to kyng Richard his brother, forgettyng not the high promocions and
notable dignities whiche he and all other there present had obteigned by the high fauor and
munificent liberalitee of his saied brother, by the whiche thei wer not onely by othe and
allegeance bounde, and also by kindnes and vrbanitee insensed & moued to take part with
hym and his frendes, but also bound to be reuenged for hym and his cause, on his mortall
enemies and dedly foes, in whiche doyng he thought policie more meter to be vsed then
force, and some wittie practise rather to be experimented then manifest hostilitee or open
warre. And for the expedicion of this enterprise he deuised a solempne iustes to be enter-
prised betwene hym and. xx. on his parte, and the erle of Salisbury and. xx. on his part
at Oxtbrde : to the whiche triumphe, Kyng Henry should be inuited and desired, and when
he were moste busely regardyng the marciall playe and warly disporte, he sodainly should
bee slain and destroyed. And by this meanes kyng Richard whiche was yet a liue, should
be restored to his libertie and repossessed of his croune and kyngdome, and appoincted
farther who should assemble the people, the numbre and persones, whiche should accom-
plishe and performe this inuented assaie and policie.
THIS deuiseso much pleased the sediciouscongregacion, that thei not onely made an in-
denture sextipartite sealed with their scales and signed with their handesin the whiche eche
•bounde hym-eelfe toother toendeuoure theim selfes both for the destruction of Kyng Henry
and the creacion of King Richard, but also sware on the holy Euangelistes the one to be trewe
and secrete to the other, euen to the houre and point of death. When all thynges were thus
apointed and eoscluded the Duke of Exceter came to the kyng to Windsore, requiryng hym
~{or tbe loue that he bare to the noble actes of chiualrie, that he woulde vouchesate not onely
to repaire to Oxford to see and behold their manlie feates, and warlike pastime : but also to be
the discouerer and indifierente iudge (if any ambiguitee should arise) of their couragions
actes and royall triumphe. The kyng seeyng hymself so effectuously desired, and that of his
•:'.': brother
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 17
brother in lavve, and nothing lesse imagenyng the that which was pretended, gentelly
graunted and frendly condiscended to his request. Which thing obtained, Jail the lordes
of this cospiracie departed to their houses (as thei noised) to set armorer? on work for
trimmyng of their harneis against the solemne iustes. Some had the helme the visere the
two bauiers & the two plackardes of the same curiously graue and conningly costed: Some
had their collers fretted and other had them set with gilte bullions, one company had the
plackard, the rest, the port the burley, the tasses, the lamboys, the backpece the tapull,
and the border of the curace all gylte : And another bande had them all enameled Azure.
One sorte had the vambrases the pacegardes the grandgardcs the poldren, the pollettes,
parted with goldc and azure : And another flocke had theym siluer and sable : Some had
the mainferres, the close gantlettes, the guissettes the tkncardes droped & gutted \viih red,
and other had the spekeled with grene : one sorte had the quishes, the greues,. the surlettes,
5" sockettes on the right side and on the left side siluer. Some had the spere, the burre, the
cronet al yelowe, and other had them of diuers colours. One band had the scafteron the
cranct, the bard of the horse all white, and other had them all gilte. Some had their
armyng sweardes freshly burnyshed and some had the conningly vernished. Some spurres
wer white, some gilt, and some cole blacke. One parte had their Plumes all white, another
had them all redde, and the third had them ofseuerall colours.- One ware on his beadpece
his Ladies sleue, and another bare on his helme the gloue of his dearlyng : But to declare
the costly Bases, the riche bardes, the pleasant trappers bothe of goldesrnithes worke and
embrawdery, no lesse sumptuously then curiously wrought, it would aske a long time to
declare, for euerye man after his appetite [3euised his fantasy verifiyng, the_oldfi^rouerbe,
so manyheades, so majijjvittesj'
"TEelluke of Exceter came to his house & raised men on euery side and prepared horse
and harneis, mete and apte for his compassed purpose. When the Duches his wife which
was sister to kyng Henry perceiued this, she no lesse trouble conjectured to be prepared
against her brother the was in dede eminent & ai hand, wherfore she wept & made great
lamentacion. When the duke perceued her dolour, he said, what Besse, how chaunseth this,
when my brother king Richard was deposed of his dignitie, and committed to harcle and
sharpe prison whiche had bene kyng and ruled this realme noblie by the space of. xxii. yeres
and your brother was exalted to the throne and dignitie imperial! of the same, then my
hearte was heauie, my life stoode in ieopardie and my combe was clerehy cut, but you then
reioysed laughed and triumphed, wherfore I pray yon be contente that I may aswell reioyce
and haue pleasure at the deliueryng and restoryng of ray brother iustly to his dignite, as
you were iocond and pleasaunt when your brother vniustly and vntrulie depriued and dis-
seazed my brother of the same. For of this I am sure, that yf my brother prosper, you and
I shal not fall nor decline : but if your brother continue in his estate and magnificece I
double not your decay nor ruine, but I suspecte the losse of my life, beside the fbrfeyture
of my landes and goodes. When he had sayd, he kissed his Lady whiche was sorowful and
pensife, and he departed toward Oxforde with a grcate company bothe of Archers and
horsemen, and when he came there, he founde ready al his mutes and confederates wel
apoinled for their purpose, except the Duke of Aumerle Erie of Rutland, for whom they
sent messengers in great haste. This duke of Aumerle went before from Westminster to
se his father the duke of Yorke, and sittyng at diner had his counterpaine of the endenture
of the confederacie wherof 1 spake before in his bosotne.
The father espied it and demaunded what it was, his sonne lowely and beningly answered
that it myght not bee sene, and that it touched not him. By saint'George quod the father
3 will see it, and so by force toke it out of his bosome, when he perceaued the content and
the sixe signes and scales sette and fixed to the same, whereof the scale of his sonne was one,
he sodainlie rose from the table, comaundyng his horses to be sadeled, and in a greate furie
saied to his sonne, thou trayter thefe, thou hast bene a traitour to kyng Richard, and wilt
thou nowe be falce to thy cosen kyng Henry? thou knovvest wel inough that I am thy
D pledge
18 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
pledge borowe and mayncperner, body for body, and land for goodes in open parliament,
and goestthou about to seke my death and destruction? by the holy rode 1 had leauer see
the strangeled on a gibbet. And so the duke of Yorke moated on horsbacke to ride toward
Windsor to the kyng and to declare the hole eftecte of his sone and his ad he rentes & par-
takers. The duke of Aumerle seyng in what case he stode toke his horse and rode another
way to Windsor, riding in post thither (whiche his father being an olde man could not do.)
And when he was alighted at the castel gate, he caused the gates to be shut, saying that he
must nedes deliuer the keies to the kyng. When he came before the kynges presence he
kneled dovvne on his knees, besechyng him of mercy and forgeuenes: The kyng demanded
the cause : then he declared to him plainely the hole confederacie and entier coniuracion
in manner and forme as you haue harder Well saied the kyng, if this be trewe we pardon
you, if it bee fained at your extreme perill bee it. While the kyng and the duke talked
together, the duke of Yorke knocked at the castel gate, whom the kyng caused to be let in,
and there he delyuered the endenture whiche before was taken from his sonne, into the
kynges handes. Which vvrityng when he had redde, and sene, perceiuyng the signes and
scales of the confederates, he chaunged his former purpose. For the daie before he heryng
say that the chalengers were al ready and that the defenders were come to do their deuoir,
purposed to haue departed towarde the triumphe the^ next day, but by his prudent and
forecastyng councel, somwhat staied till he myght se the ayre clere and no darcke cloude
nere to the place where the listes were. And nowe beyng aduertised of the truthe and
veritie, howe his destruction and deathe was compassed, was not a littell vexed, but with a
great and meruelous agonie perturbed and vnquieted, and therefore determined there to
make his abode not hauyng time to loke and gase on lustes and tourneis, but to take hede
howe to kepe and conserue his lyfe and dignitie, and in that place taried tyll he knewe what
way his enemies would set forward. And shortly wrote to the Earle of Northumberland his
high Costable, and to the erle of Westmerland his high Marshal, and to other his assured
frendes of al the douteful daunger and perelousieopardie. The coniuratoures perceiuyng
by the lacke of the duke of Aumerles coming, and also seyng no preparacion made there
for the kynges commyng, imagined with them selfes that their enterpryse was intimate and
published to the kyng : Wherfore that thyng whiche they attempted priuilie to do, nowe
openly with speare & shilde they determined with all diligent celeritie to set forth and
aduaunce. And so they adorned Magdalene, a man resemblyng muche kyng Richard in
roiall and princely vesture, callyng him kyng Richard, affirming that he by fauour of his
kepers was deliuered out of prison and set at libertie, and they followed in a quadrat array
to the entent to destroy king Henry as the most pernicious & venemus enemy to the and his
owne naturall countrey. While the confederates with this newe publyshed Idole accom-
panied with a puissant armie of men, toke the directe way and passage toward Windsor :
Kyng Henry beyng admonished of their approchyng, with a fewe horse in the night, came
to the Tower of London about, xii. of the clocke, where he in the mornynge caused the
Maire of the citie to apparell in armure the beste and moste couragious persons of the
citie : which brought to him. iii. M. archers and. iii. M. bill men, beside them that were'
deputed to defend the citie.
The Lordes of the confederacie entered the castel of Windsor,where they findyng not their
praie, determined with all spede to passe forthe to London : But in the waie, changyng
their purpose they returned to the towne of Colbroke and there taried. These Lordes had
much people folowyng them, what for feareand what for entreatie surely beleuyng that kyng
Richard was there present and in company. King Hery issued out of London with
twentye M. men and came to Hounsloe Heath, where he pitched his campe, abidyng the
commyng of his enemies: but when they were aduertised of the kynges puissaunce, or els
amased with feare, or forthinkyng and repentyng their begonne busines, or mistrustyng their
owne company and felowes, departed from thence to Barkamstede and so to Aucester, and
there the Lordes toke their lodgyng: The duke of 'Surrey erle of Kent and the erle of
2 Salisbury
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. "19'
Salisbury in one ynne, and the duke of Exceter and the carle of Glocesler in another, and
al the hoste laie in the feldes. The Baily of the towne with fowre score archers set on the
house wher the duke of Surrey and other laie: the house was uiannely assaulted and
strongely defended a great space : The Duke of Exceter beyng in another inne with the
erle of Glocester set fier on diners bowses in the towne, thin kyng that the assailantes would
leuc their assault and rescue their goodes, which thing they nothyng regarded. The host
liyng without hearyng noise and seyng fire in the towne, beleuyng that the kyng was come
thyther with his puissaunce, fledde without measure to saue them selfes. The duke of
Exceter and his company seyng the force of the townes men more & more encreace, fled
out of the backeside entendyng to repaire to the armie, whiche they found dispersed and
retired. Then the duke seing no hope of cofort, tied into Essex, and the erle of Glocester
goyng toward Wales was taken and beheaded at Brisiowe. Magdalene fliyng into Scot-
land was appreheded and brought to the Tower. The lordes whiche fought still in the
towne of Chichester wer wouded to deth and taken and their heades striken of and sent to
London : and there were taken sir Bennet Shelley or Cell, and sir barnard Brokas and. xxix.
other Lordes Knyghtes and Esqniers & sent to Oxford, where the kyng then soiourned,
where sir Thomas Blonte and all the other prysoners were executed. Whe the Duke of
Exceter heard that his complices wer taken, and his councellers apprehended, and his
frendes and alies put in execucion, he lamented his owne chaunce, and bewepte the mis-
fortune of his frendes, but most of all bewailed the fatall end of his brother kyng Richard,
whose death he saw as in a mirrour by his vnhappy sedition and malicious attempte to
approche, and so wanderynge lurkyng and hidyng him selfe in priuy places, was attached
in Essex, and in the lordshippe of Plasshey a towne of the Duches of Glocester and there
made shorter by the bed, and in that place especially because that he in the same Lordship
seduced £ falsely betrayed Thomas duke of Glocester, and was the very inward auctour
and open dissimuler of his death and destruction. F|p .the_comon_Prpuerbe was verified, as /.
yfln ^"eL_.4QD£j-j^-AbjJJLyg!?^M^J Qh Lord J[ would jviah$ foaT ttip example, of many
highlye promoted to rule, might w. had in meradne, the which mete and ineasu re their
owne iniquitie and il doinges, with force auctoritie and power, to the entent that they by
these examples shoulde auerte their myndes from ill doynges, and such vngodly and
execrable offences./ After this Magdalein that represented the person of kyng Richard
amogest the rebels, and diuerse other were put in execucion, and all the heades of the
chefe conspiratoures sette on polles on London bridge, to the feare of other whiche were
disposed to commit like offence. The Abbot of Westminster in whose house this traiterous
confederacy was conspired, hearyng that the chefetains of his felowshippe, were espied,
taken and executed, going betwene his monastery and mancion, for thoughte fell in a
sodaine palsey, and shortely after without any speche ended his life : after whome the By-
shop of Carlile more for feare then sickenes, rendred his spirite to God, as one rather desir-
yng to die by deathes darte, then temporall swearde. But nowe was come the time when
all the confederates and compaignions of this vnhappye sedicion, had tasted accordyng to
their desertes, the painfull penaunce of their pleasante pastime, or rather pestiferus obstin-
acy, that an innocent with a nocet, a man vngilty with a gilty, was pondered in an egall
balaunce. For pore king Richard ignorant of all this coniuracion kept in miserable cap-
tiuitie, knowyng nothyng but that he sawe in his chamber, was by king Henry adiudged to"!
die, because that he beyng singed and tickeled with the laste craftie policie of bis enemies, i
would deliuer himself out of all inward feare and discorde, and cleane put away the very \
ground wherof suche frutes of displeasure mighte by any waie be attempted againste him, )
so that no man hereafter shoulde ether faine or resemble to represente the persone of king
Richarde : jwherfore some saye he commaunded, other talke that he condiscended, many
write that he knewe not tyll it was done and then it confirmed. But howe so euer it was,
fcvng Richarde dyed of a violent death, without any infection or naturall disease of the body.—
D 2 The
20 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
The common fame is that he was euery daye serued at the table with costely meate like a
kyng, to the entent that no creature shuld suspecte any thing done contrary to the order
taken in the parliament, and when the meate was set before him, he was forbidden
that he shuld not once touch it, ye not to smel to it, and so died of famin : which
kynd of death is the most miserable, most vnnatural, ye and most detestable that can
be, for it is ten times more painefull then death (whiche of all extremities is the
most terrible) to die for thirst standyng in the riuer, or starue for hunger, besette with
•^twentie deintie disshes. .Qjie^wnjej: whiche semed to haue muche knowledge of kyng
Rychardes affaires, saieth that kyng Henry sittyng at his table sore sighyng said, haue
1 no faithefull frende whiche will deliuer me of him whose life will be my dcth, and
whose death will be the preseruacion of my life. This saiyng was muche noted of them
whiche were present and especially of one called sir Piers of Exton. This knight incon-
tinently departed fro the court with eight strong persons and came to Pomfret, commaun-
dyng that the esquier whiche was accustomed to sewe and take the assaye before kyng
Richard, shuld no more vse that maner of seruice, saiyng, let him eate we! nowe, for he
shall not long eatc. Kyng Richard sate downe to dyner and was serued without cnrtesie
or assay, he muche meruailyng at the sodaine mutacion of the thyng, demaunded of the
Esquier why he did not his duety? sir, said he, I am otherwise comaunded by sir Pyers of
Exton, which is newely come from king Henry. When he heard that worde, he toke the
caruyng knife in his hand and strake the esquier on the head saiyng, the deuell take Henry
Pbf Lancastre and the together : and with that worde sir Piers entered into the chamber wel
/ armed with. viii. tall men inharneis, euery man hauing a bill in his had. Kyng Richarde
perceuyng them armed, knewe well that they came to his confusion, and puttyng the table
from him, valiantly toke the bill out of the first mannes hand, and manly defended himselfc,
and slewe fowre of them in a short space. Sir Piers being sowhat dismaied with his resist-
yng, lepte into the chaire where kyng Richard was wonte to sitte, while the other fowre
persons assailed and chased him aboute the chamber, whiche beyng vnarmed defended him
against his enemies beyng armed, (whiche was a valiaunt acte) but in conclusion chasyng
and trauersing fro the one side to the other, he came by the chaire wher sir Piers slode,
whiche with a stroke of his Pollax felled hym to the ground, and then shortely he was rid
out of the worlde, without ether confession or receit of sacrament. ^When this knight per-
ceiued that he was deade, he sobbed, wept, and rent his heare criyng, Oh Lord, what haue
we done, we haue murthered hym whom by the space of. xxii. yeres we haue obeied as
king, and honored as our soueraigne lord, now all noble men will abhorre vs, all honest
persons will disdaine vs, and all pore people will rayle and crie out vpon vs, so that duryng
our naturall Hues, we shal be poincted with the finger, and our posterite shal be reproued
as children of Homecides, ye of Regicides & prince quellersT]. Thus haue I declared to you
the diuersities of opinions concernyng the deathe of this mfortunate prince, remittyng to
your iudgement whiche you thinke most trewe, but the very trouthe isthat he died of a
violent death, and not by the darte of naturall infirrnitie.
When Atropos had cut the line of his lyfe, his body was embaulmed and seared and couered
with lead al saue his face (to the entent that all men might perceiue that he was departed
out of this mortal lyfe) and was conueighed to London, where in the cathedrall churche of
saincte Paule he had a solempne obsequie, and from thence conueighed to Lagley in Buck-
yngham shire, where he was enterred, and after by kyng Henry the. v. remoued to West-
minster, and there intombed honorably with quene Anne his wife, although the Scottes vn-
treuly write that he escaped out of prisone, and led a verteous and solitary life in Scotlande,
and there died and is buried intheblacke Friers at Sterlyng. What trust is in this worlde, what
suretie man hath of his life, & what constancie is in the mutable comonaltie, all men maie
apparently perceiue by the ruyne of this noble prince, whiche beeyng an vndubitate kyng,
"crooned and anoymed by the spiritualtie, honored and exalted by the nobilitee, obeyed uod
worshipped
KYNG HENRY THE. II IJ. 21
worshipped of the comon people, was sodainly discerned by theim whiche he moste trusted,
betraied by ttieim whom he had preferred, & slain by theim whom he had brought vp and
norished : so that all menne maie perceiue and see, that fortune wayeth princes and pore
men all in one balance.
WHEN ne.wes of kyng Richardes deposyng were reported into Frauce, kyng Charles
and all his court wondered, detested & abhorred suche an iniurie to bee doen to an anoynt-
ed kyng, to a crouned prince, & to the hed of a realme : but in especial Walt-ram erle of
sent Panic whiche had maried kyng Richardes halfe sister, moued with high disdain against
kyng Henry, ceased not to stirre and prouoke y Frenche kyng and his counsaill to make
sharpe warre inEnglande, to reuenge the iniurie and dishonor comitted and doen to hissonne
in lawe kyng Richard, & he hymself sent letters of defiance to England. Whiche thyng
was sone agreed to, and an armie royall appoyncted with all spede, to innade England.
But the Frenche kyng so stomacked this high displesure, & so inwardly coceiued this infor-
tunate chance in his minde, that he fell into his old disease of the frensy, hat he had nede
accordyng to the old prouerbe, to saile into the Isle of * Anticyra, to purge his melacholie *Anticyra
humor, but by the meanes of his phisicions, he was somwhat releued & brought to know- Ast^where"
ledge of hymself. This armie was come doune into Picardy, redy to be trasported into ^n^^th,
Englad, but whe it was certainly certified that kyng Richard was ded, & that their enterprise purgeth S
of his deliuerace was frustrate & voyd. tharmie scattred & departed a sonder. t^rof*
BUT when the certaintie of kyng Richardes death was declared to the Aquitaynes and <-s the pro-
Gascons, the moste parte of the wisest men of the countree, fell into a greate bodely feare, ""1*10*°
and into a dedly dreade. For some lamentyng the instabilitee of the Englishe people, Anticira, as
iudged theim to be spotted with perpetuall infamie, and brought to dishonor & losse of their ^^f'
auncientfaine and glory, for comittyng so heynous a cryme and detestable an offence against youreM*.
their king & soueraigne lorde. The memorie wherof, thei thought would neuer be buried
or extincted. Other fered the losse of their goodes and liberties, because they imagined
that by this ciuill discencion and intestine deuision, the realme of England should so bee
vexed and troubled, that their countree (if the Frenchemenne should inuade it) should bee
destitute and lefte voide of all aide and succor of the Englishe nacion. But the citezens of
Burdeaux toke this matter very sore at y stomacke, because kyng Richard was borne and;
brought vp in their citee, lamentyng and criyng out, that sithe the beginnyng of the worlde,
there was neuer a more detestable, a more vilanous nor a more heynous acte committed :
whiche beyng sad with sorowe and enilamed with malencolie, saied that vntrue, vnnaturall
and vnmercilull people had betrayed and slain, contrary to all law and iustice and honestie,
a good man, a iuste prince and politike gouernor. Besechyng God deuoutly on their
knees, to be the reuenger and punisher of that detestable offence and notorius crime.
WHEN the Frenchmen, whiche haue iyes of the wakyng serpent, perceiued the dolor
and agony that the Aquitaynes and Gascons wer in for the death of 'heir prince, duke and
countrymanne, they reioysed and aplauded in maruelous maners, thynkyng with theimselfes
that (the Gascons nowe abhorryrtg and detestyng the Englishe men more than a Dogge or an
Adder) they verie easely mighte obtain the whole countree and douchie of Aquitaine,with the
members and territories there to apperteignyng, if they would ether by entreatie or by inua-
sion moue the people beyng now amased and comfortles, as shepe without a shepeherd, or
beastes without an herdman. Whin-fore in greate haste and slowe spede, Lewes clnke of
Burbon was sent to Angit-rs, & wrote to diuerse citees and tounes on the confynes of Aqui-
tain and Gascon, exhortyng them with large promises and flateryng wordes, to reuolte and
turne from the Englishe subieccion, and become vassals to the croune of Fraunce. But all
his glosyng wordes seruedlitle, and all his faire promises profited muche lesse. For the people
knewe that the Englishe yoke was but a tether, & the yoke of Fraunce was more ponderus
then lede, seyng daily how the I rench men vexed and molested ther miserable people with
extreme exaccios and intollerable tallages, rasyng .their skinne to the very bone, and their
purses
22 THE FIRST YERE OF
purses to the veryfootome wherfore they determined rather to abide in their bid subicccion
and obedience, then for a displeasure irrecurable to auenture themselfes on a newe chance
and a deubtfuil parell.
KING Henry beeyng aduertised of all the Frenche alternptes and couert conueighances,
sent the lorde Thomas Percy -erle of Worceter with a goodly trewe of souldiours into Aqui-
tain, to aide and assist sir Robert Knolles his leuetenante there, and to perswade and
exorte the people to continewe in their ancient libertie and dewc obeysance. The erle
arriued there, and so wisely entreated the noble men, so grauously persuaded the mage-
strates of the citees and tounes, and so gently and familiarly vscd and traded the vulgare
people, that he not onely appeased their furie and malice, but brought theim to a louyng and
"vniforme obeysance, receiuyng of them othes of obedience and loyall fealtie, whiclie done
he retourned againe into England with great thankes. When kyng Charles of Fran nee per-
ceiued that his purpose and attempte was frustrate and came to no good conclusion in
Aquitayne and that kyng Richard being deade, his enterprise into England was of no value
and of small purpose, he determined with him selfe to inuent some way howe to haue the
Lady Isabell his doughter, sometime espoused to kyng Richard restored to him again : and
for that purpose sent a solemne ambassade into England to kyng Henry, whiche gentely
receiued them, and gaue in answere that he would send his commissioners shortely to Caleis,
whiche shoulde farther common and coclude with them, not onely that request, but diners
other matters of gret effecte and efficacie. And shortley after their departyng he sent
Edward duke of Yorke, before called duke of Aumerle, whiche succeded in the said duchie
his father Edmond duke of Yorke, a littell before disseased and Henry erle of Northumber-
land into the countrei of Guisnes. The commissioners assembled at diuers places at sondry
times. The duke of Borbon aboue al thynges required in the name of the French king his
master, to haue quene Isabell to him deliuered. The Englishmen that to do continually did
deny, requiryng to haue her maried to Henry Prince of Wales, a man bothe in blud and
age to her in all thinges equal!. But the Frenche kyng that mariage vtterly refused, saiyng
he wolde neuer ioyne affinitie after with the Englishe nacion, because that the aliance had so
vnfortunate successc.
Then they began to entreate a continual! peace, whiche request the Frenchemen refused,
and in conclusion they agreed that the truce whiche was taken betwene them and kyng Rich-
arde, for the terme of. xxx. yeres, was renouate and confirmed. Some authors affirm that
there was a newe leage concluded and confirmed betwene both the realmes duryng the Hues
of bothe the princes, whiche semeth to haue a certein colour of veritie. For the kyng sent
shortly after the foresaid Lady Isabell vnder the conducte of the Lord Thomas Percy erle
of Worceter, associate with many noble and honourable personages, as well of women as
men, hauyng with her al the lewells ornamentes & plate (with a great surplusage geuen to
hir by the kyng whiche she brought into England) was sente in solemne estate to Caleis, and
there deliuered to Waleran erle of saincte Paule Lieuetenant for the French king in Picar-
die, and so conueighed to her father, whiche gaue her in mariage to Charles sone to Lewes
duke of Orleaunce. The Frenchmen often times required king Henry to assigne to her a
dower, but al was in vaine, for the Englishemen answered that the matrimony was neuer
consummate, by reason wherof she was not dowable, by the very treatie of the mariage con-
eluded, and so this matter seased, and was no more moued. V As the olc( prouerhe^saifhj
after winde commeth jajn, &' after one ejyiil .comply easu.eth. anothert 39. duryng the time that
kyng Henry was vexed and vnquieted, bothe within the realme & without..
OWEN Gtenebfr^eqtitt'e-tTf Wattes," Bslceiuyng the reaime to be. vnquieted. and the
kyng not yet to be placed in a sure and vnmouableseate, entedyng to vsurpe and take vpon
hym the principalitie of Wales, and the name and preheminence of the same, what with
faire flatteryng wordes and with large promises, soenuegled entised and .allured the wilde and
-vndiscrite Welshmen, that they toke hym as their prince and made to hym an othe of allegeance
s v , cd subieccion. By whose supportacion, he beyng elated and set vp in aucthorite, to the
'& intent
KYNG HENRY THE. HIJ. f3
intent to bee out of all double of his neighbors, made sharpe warre oft Reignolde lorde
Grey of llithen and toke hym prisoner, promisyng hym libertee and dischargyng his raun-
some, if he would espouse and marie his dough ter, thynkyng by that affinitie, to haue greate
aide and muche power in Wales. The lorde Grey beeyng not very riche nether of substance
nor of frendes, consideryng this offer to be the onely waie of his releffe and deliuerance,
1 assented to his pleasure and rnaried the damosell. But this false father in laxve, this vntre\v,
vnhonest and periured persone, kept hym with his wife still in captiuitee till he died. And
not content with this heynous offence, made warre on lorde Edmond Mortimer erle of
Marche, and in his owne lordship of Wigmore, where in a conflict he slewe many of therles
men and loke hym prisoner, and feteryng hym in chaynes, cast hym in a depe and miserable
dongeon. The kvng was required to purchase his deliuerance by diuerse of the nobilitie,,
but he could not heare on that side, rather he would and wished al his linage in heuen..
For then his title had been out of all doubt & question, and so vpon this cause as you heare,
after ensued great sedicion.
o^THUS Owen G lender glorifiyng hymself in these twoo victories, inuaded'the Marches-
of Wales on the West side of Seuerne, robbed vilages, brent tounes and slewe the people,
and laden with praies and bloudy handes returned again into Wales, neuer desistyng to do
euil till the next yere, that the kyng reised a greate annie and puissance to resist and defende.
his malicious atfemptes and sedicious inuasions, as after shall be declared. It was not suffi-
ciet in this first yere of kyng Henry, this realme to be troubled with domestical sedicion,
vexed with the craftie practices and inuencions of the Frenche men, and inuaded and in-
fested with thefrantike waueryngWelshemen, but also fortune hauyngenuy at the glory and
fortunate procedyng of this man, muste in his saied firste yere also, arme the Scottes with
spcre and shelde against hym and his realme, wherof the occasion shall bee to you declared
accordyng to the Scotticall histories. A Ikle before this tyme, George of Dunbar erle of
the Marches of the realme, made meanes to kyng Robert of Scotlande, that Dauid his eldest
sonne might rnarie and espouse the erles doughter called Elizabeth, and deliuered for the
performance of the same mariage, into the kynges handes a greate some of money. When
Archebaulde erle Douglas heard of this conclucion, disdainyng therle of the Marches blud
to be auaunced before his stocke, wherfore ether by faire wordes, or els by disbursyng a
greter some of money, he so enuegeled Kyng Roberte of Scotlande, that Dauid his heire
refusyng the first damosell,. espoused Mariell the erle Douglas doughter. Therle of Marche
desired restitucion of his money, to whom the kyng gaue many friuolus and trifelyng
aunsweres, wherfore he disdainyng so to bee mocked & deluded of his money, with his wife
and family, fled into England, to Henry erle of Northumberlande, entendyng with dent of
?werd to reuenge the injury & displesure to hym by the kyng comitted £ doen, £ so with
the help of the borderers brent diuerse tounes, £ slew many persons in the realme of Scot-
land.
-^KING Robert beeyng thereof aduertised, firste deprived the Erie George of all his
dignitees and possessions, and caused his goodes to bee confiscate, -and after wrote to the
Kyng of Englande, instantly requiryng hym, if he would the truce any longer to continevv
ether to deliuer into his possession the Erie of Marche, and other traitors and rebelles to
his persone and realme, or els to banishe and exile theim out of his realme, territories and
dominions. Kyng Henry discretly answered the heiault of Scotland, that the worde of a
prince ought to bee kepte, and his writyng and seale ought to bee inuiolate, and consider-
yng that he had graunted a saue conduite to the erle and his compaigny, he would nether
without cause resonable breake his promise, nor yet deface his honor. Whiche answer
declared to the kyng of Scottes, he incontinente did proclaime and intimate open warre,
against the kyng of England, with bloud fire and swe'ard. Kyng Henry perceiuyng, that
--policie preuenteth chance, gathred and assembled together a greate annie, and entered into
Scotlande, burnyng townes villages and castles, sparyng nothyng but religious houses and
churches, and brent a greate parte of the tounes of Edenbrough and Lithe and beseged the
castle
24 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
castle of Maidens inEdenbrough, in thende of September, whereof was capitain, Dauicl duke
of Rothsay and prince of the realme, and Archibalde erle Douglas, with many hardy men.
Roberte duke of Albania, beyng appoyncted gouernor of the realme, because the kyng was
sicke and vnapt to rule, sent vnto kyng Henry an harrold, assuryng hym on his honour that
if he woulde abide and tary his coming and repaire, wlu'che should be within sixe daies at
the most he would geue hym battaill, and remoue the siege, or els die for it.
The kyng beeyng glad of these ioyous good newes, rewarded the herault with a goune of
silke and a chayne of gold, promisyng hym in the worde of a prince, not to depart thence
but abide there, thecomyng of. the gouernor. The sixe daies passed, ye sixe and sixtene to,
the gouernor nether apered nor sent worde, the winter waxed cold, vitaile failed, men died
of the flixe, it rained euery daie so habundantly, that hunger and colde caused the kyng to
breke vp his siege, and to departe out of Scotland, without battaill or skirmish offered.
Duryng whiche tyme bothe the Wardens of the Marches beyng with the kyng, the Scottea
made a rode into Northumberlande, and burned diuerse tounes in Bamborough shere, and
shortly returned again, or els thei had been trapped & come to late home. When the kyng
of England had dismissed his souldiers, and discharged his army, the Scottes entendyng to
bee reuenged of their greate domages to theim by the Englishe uacio doen and committed
by therle Douglas, appoyncted twoo armyes to inuade Englande. Of the first was chieftain,
sir Thomas Halibarton of Dirlton, and Patrike Hebburne of Hales, whiche made a rode
into Englande, and returned with litle losse and no greate gain. After this the forsaid sir
Patrike Hebburne, encoraged & boldened with the prosperous succcsse of this first iorney,
with a greate armie of the people of Lowdian inuaded Northumberlande, robbyng and
spoylyng the coutree and departed homeward, not without greate gain of beastes and cap-
tiues. But in the returne he was encoutered with therle of Northumberlandes vicewarden,
& other gentilmen of the borders at a toune in Northumberlande called Nesbit, and there
the Englishemen sore assailed, and the Scottes valiantly resisted, but after a long fight, the
victory fell on the Englishe partc, and as Ihon Mayer the Scot wrireth, there wer slain the
flower of all Loughdean, and especially sir Patricke Hebburne with many of his linage.
There wer apprehended sir Ihon and Willyam Cockeburne, sir Robert of Bas, Ihon and
Thomas Hablincton esquicrs, and a greate nomber of the comon people. The erle Douglas
sore beyng greued with the losse of his nacion and frendes, entendyng a requitement if it
were possible of the same, by the consente of the gouernour of Scotlande, did gather a houge
armie of twentie thousande talle menne and more.
In the whiche armie was Lord Mordake earle of Fife sonne to the gouernour of Scotland,
the erle of Angus, and many other erles and barons of the nobilitie of Scotland. These
valiaunte capitayns and couragious souldioures entered into Northumberlande with ban-
ners displayed like menne either apte or thynkyng theim selfes able to destroy the townes
and spoyle the countrey and Marches of Northumberlande. When they were entered into;
England thinkyng no puissaunce able to encounter with their force, out of a valey beside a
toune called Homeldon issued sodainly the Lorde Henry Percie, whom the Scottes for his
haut and valiant corage called sir Henry hotspur, and in his company the Lorde George of
Dunbar erle of Marche before banished Scotlande, as you haue heard, with all the genii!!
menne of Northumberland, and eight thousande men on horsebacke and on fote. The
encounter was sharpe, the fight was daungerous, the long continuaunce was doubtfull, for
some were felled and rescued, some in rescuyng other were slaine, other gredy of prave more
then of strokes fled to se what baggages were kept emongest the Pages. Thus with pure
fightyng of the Englishemen and fainte hertes of the bragging Scottes, the brighte beame of
victory shone on sainct Georges crosse, and there were slaine of men of great renoune and
estimacion sir Iho Swinton, sir Adam Gordon, sir Ihon Leuiston, sir Alexander Ransey of
Dalehowse, and. xxiii. knightes moo, whose names ether for ignorance or for feare of re-
proche, Hector Boece the Scottish archecbronocler kepeth in silence and dothe omitte,
beside, x. M. comons. But there wer taken prisoners, Mordaeke erle of Fife, Archebald
1 erle
KYNG HENRY THE. IIU.
erle Douglas, whiche in the combat loste one of his eyes, Thomas erle of Murrey, Robert
erle of Angus, and as other writers affirme, the erls of Athell und Mentethe with v. C.
other.
When the Lord Percy had thus obtained this glorious victory, he sent his prisoners into
diuerse fortresses, and determined to subdue or destroy all the countrcis of Lowdene and
Marche, whose heades and Gouernours ether he had slain or by force taken captiues. And
so with a gret power entered into Tiuedale wastyng any destroiyng the hole countrey, and
they beseged the castell of Cokelaues, whereof was capitain sir Ihon Grenlowe, which
seyng that his castel was not long able to be defended copouhded with the Englishmen that
yf the castel wern ot suckered within, iii. monthes, that then he would deliuer it into the Eng-
lishe mennes handes. The capitaine thereof wrote vnto the Gouernour, whiche callyng a
great councell, the moste parte aduised hym rather frankely and frely to yeld the castel,
than to put in ieopardie and caste in hasard the remnaunt of the florishyng nobihue of the
realme. So muche was their courages abated and their fumishe crakes refrigerat with the
remembraunce of the last conflicte and batail. But the gouernour rebukyng their tiinerous
lieartes, and Feminine audacitie (whether he thought so or no was a questio) sware that if
no man wold folowe of the nobilitie he woulde do his deuoire to reskewe the castell at the
day. But his othe was nether kept nor broken, for he litell preparyng and lesse entendyng
the oth whiche he solemply made neuer set fote forward duryng the first, ii. monethes, for
the reising of the seige or reskewe of the castel. But the Englisbe men beyng sent for to
go with the kyng into Wales, raised their siege and departed leauyng the noble men prison-
ers styll with the earle of Northumberland and the Lord Percie his sonne, which by the
kyng were commaunded to kepe them to his vse, and not to deliuer them without his as-
sent.
KYNG Henry jkw^atnot,his enterprise into Wales, but made provision for menne, mu- The
nicions and artillary me!e~and conuenient for so great a businessc, whereof the Frenche kyng
beyng aduertised, sente priuilie Lorde lames of Burbone earle of Marche and his two bre-
thren Ihon and Lewes, with xii. C. knightes and esquiers to aide Owen Glendor against
the inuasions of kyng Henry, he toke shippyng with. xxx. saile at the mouthe of Seine, and
the wynd was not fauourable to his purpose for he coulde neuer approche the coaste of
Wales but came before the towne of Plimmouthe in Deuonshire, and there leauyng his great
shippes liyng at ancre, in the nyghte toke land and brent, spoiled and destroied diuers small
villages, and poore cotages, arid robbed, v. or vi. littel Craiers and fisher botes laden with
fysshe and come. But while he and his companie like gredy wolfes were sekyng after their
praie, the winde rose highe and a great tempesteous rage and furious storme sodainely
flushed and drowned, xii. of his great shippes whiche laie in the mouth of the hauen for his
safegard and defence. Whereof when the erle was aduertised, and pcrceuyng by the fi-
ryng of the beacons that the people began to assemble in plumpes to encounter with him,
and also seyng his power sore diminished as well by the slaughter of suche as ranged abrode
in hope of spoyle and praye, as by the furious rage of the vnmercifull see and hydeous tem-
pest, with muche paine and great labour toke his shippes againe, and was notwithout ieo-
pardie ef his lyfe driuen on the coast of Britaine and landed atsainct Malos. L The French
kyng perceiuyng that this chiice had il successe ; appointed one of his Marshals called Me-
morancie, and the master of his Crosbowes with. xii. M. men, to saile into Wales, which
toke shippyng at Brest and had the winde to them so prosperous that they landed at Milfoid
hauen, and leauing the castel of Penbroke vnassaulted, because it was well fortified, man-
red, and vitailed, besieged the towne of Harforde West whiche was so well defended by the
erle of Arundell and his power that they much more lost then gained."\ And from thence
they departed towarde Owen Glendor whome they nominated prince of "Wales, and founde
him at the towne of Denbigh abidyng their comyng with ten thousand men. They wer of
him louingly receiued, andjgentelly enterteined, and when all thynges were prepared, they
passed by Glamorgan shire toward Worcester and there brent the suburbes, but hearyng of
E the
5<S THE SECOND YERE OF
Ihekynges approchyng sodainly returned into Wales. The king with a great puissau nee fo-
lowed and founde them embattailed on a highe mountaine, and a gret yaley betwene bothe
,.; ' the armies, so that eche armie plainely perceiued other, and euery hoste loked to be assau-
ed of liis aduersary, and of the groud to take the most aduautage : thus they cotinued eight
daies fro mornyng to nyght ready to abide but not to geue battaile. There wer many fcarce
skirmishes and many propre feates of armes daily done, whiche the French Croniclers more
then the Englishe writers can reporte. For there were slaine the Lorde Patrioles of Tries,
brother to the Marshall of France, the Lord Mattelone and the Lord Vale and the bastarde
of Burbon, with, v. hundred gentelmen.
The Frenche men and Welshe men were sore trobeled and afflicted with famine, that their
hertes were appalled and their corages sore abated, for the kyng had so stopped the passages
that nether vitayl nor succour could by any way be conueighed to the. Wherfore of very
necessitie they were compelled eyther to fyghte or flee : And so by the aduisement and coun-
cell of the Marshall of Fraunce, whiche put not to muche confidence in the waueryng
Welshemen, the hole hoste departed theight day at midnight in the most secretes maner that
they could deuise. The Frenche men with littel rewardes and no gaine returned into Bri-
tayne makyng small boast of their painfull iourney.
THE kyng seyng them departed, folowed the into Wales, and chasing them from hilles
to dales, from dales to woddes, from woddes to marishes, and yet could neuer haue them at
any aduauntage. A world it was to see his quctidiane remouyng, his painfull and busy wan-
deryng, his troblesome and vncertaine abidyng, his continual mocion, his daily peregrina-
cion in the desert, felles and craggy mountains of that bareine vnfertile and depopulate
countrey. And thus beyng tossed from countrey to countrey, from hill to vale, from nia-
rishe to wod, from noughte to worsse, without gaine or profile, withoute vitayle or succour,
he was of necessitie copelled to retire his armie and retourne againe to Worcester, in whiche
retournyng the Welshemen knowing the passages of the countrey, toke certaine cariagesof his
laden with vitayle to his great displeasure, and their great comforte. When he came to Wor-
cester perceiuyng winter to approche which season of the yere is not conuenient and proper
for men of warre to lie in the feldes, and specially in suche a barraine and hilly countrey as
Wales is, dispersed his armie for that time and returned to London. In the meane time
while the kyng was thus occupied in Wales, certain malicious and cruel persons enuiyng
and malignyng in their heartes that king Henry contrary to the opinion of many, but against
the will of rno had so shortely obteigned and possessed the realme and regalitie, biased
abrode & noised daily amongest the vulgare people that kyng Richard (whiche was openly
senc dead) was yet liuyng and desired aide of the common people to repossesse his realme
and roiall dignitie. And to the furtheraunce of this fantasticall inuencion partly inoued with
indignacion, partely incensed with furious malencolie, set vpon postes and caste aboute the
stretes railyng rimes, malicious meters and tauntyng verses against kyng Henry and his pro-
cedynges. lie beyng netteled with these vncurteous ye vnucrtuous prickes & thornes,
serched out the authours, and amongest other were found culpable of this offence and
crime, sir Roger Claryngdoh, knight, and eight gray Friers whiche according to their me-
rites and desertes were strangeled at Tiborne and there put in execution. I may not here
t forget to shewe you howe that kyng Henry sekyng nowe aranitie and frendshippe in G.er*
manie sent this yere his eldest doughter Blaunche accompanied with the Erie of Sommerset,.
the Bishop of Worcester, and the Lord Clifforde, and other noble personages into AL-
niaine, whiche brought her to Coleyne, and there with great triumphe she was maried to
Willyam Duke of Bauier, sonne and heire to Lewes of Bauier the Emperour, in whiche
yere also died Lady Katherine Swinsforct the thyrde wife of Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lan-
castre father to this kyng Henry, & was buried at Ltncolne. In the saiue yere kyng Henry
maried lane Daches of Britaine late wife to Ihon duke of Britaine at the citie of Win-
chester and with triumphal pompe conueighed her thorow the citie of London, to West*
miuster, and there she was crowned Quene.
While
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ.
While these thynges were thus doyng in England Waleran Eric of sainct Paulo whiche
had inaricd t!ie iialle sinter of Richard, hauyng a malicious lieart and a deadly hatred to
kyng Henry, a'ssebled a great number of men of warre to the number of. xvi.. or. xviii. C.
whert-of the greatest pane were noble men, and made great prouisio of all thingrs neces-
sary for his feate and enterprise. And on sainct Nicholas day entered into his bhippes at
Harrlete and landed in .the Isle of Wight, and when he sawe no apperaunce of defence, he
burned two poore villages and. iiii. simple cottages, and for great triumphe of this noble
acte he made iiii. knightes: but sodainly when he was aduertysed by his espials that th»
people of the Isle vver assembled and approched to fight with hym. He with aUmste pos-
sible toke his shippes and retourned home againe, wherwith the noble men of his company
•were much discontente and displeased, consideryng that his prouision was great and, his
gaine small or none. And in the same very season Ihon Erie of Cleremount sonne to the
Duke of Burbone, wonne in Gascoigne the castelles of sainct Peter, saincte Marie and the
newe castell, and the Lord Delabrethe wonnc the castell of Carlaffin, whiche was no small
losse to the Englishc naciori : Duryng which time died Philippe duke of Burgoin, and duke
Albert of Bauier Erie of Henault.
H THE THIRDE YERE. '
IN this yere appered a comete or btasyng Starre of a houge quantitie by a long season The.Hi
which as the Astronomers affirmed, signified great effusion of mannes blud, which iudge- ycr'
ment was not frustrate as you shall perceiueTj Eor Henry erle of Northumberland and
Thomas erle of Worcester his brother, arirtms sonne Lord Henry Percy called hotspur,
which were to king Henry in the beginnyng of his reigne bothe fautours frendes and aiders,
perceiuing nowe that he had pacified all domesticall sedicion and repressed his enemies,
and reduced his realm to a conuenient quietnes, began somwhat to enuie the glory of hyrn,
and grudged againste his welthe and felicitie. And specially greued, because the kyng de-
inaunded of the Earle and his sonne suche Scottishe prisoners as they had taken at the con-
flictes fought at Homeldon and Nesbit as you before haue heard. For of all the captiues
whiche were there taken, ther was deliuered to the kynges possession onely Mordake earle
of Fife sonne to the duke of Albanie Gouernour of Scotland, for the king them diuerse
aad sondry times of therle and his sonne required. But the Percies affirmyng them to be
their owne propre prisoners and their peculiar praies, and to deliuer theym vtterly denaied,
in so muche that the kyng openly saied that if they wolde not deliuer them, he woulde take
them without deliuerance. Wherwith they bcyng sore discotent, by the councell of Lord
Thomas Percy erle of Worcester, whose study was euer to procure malice, and to set al
thynges in broile and vncerteintie, fainyng a cause to proue and temple the kyng, came to
him to Wyndsor, requiryng him by raunsome or otherwise to cause to bee deliuered out of
prison Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche their cosyn gcrmain whome (as they reported)
,Owen Glendor kept in filthy prison shakeled with yrons, onely for that cause that he toke
his parte, and was to hym faithful and trcwe. ^The kyng began not a litell to muse on this
request, and not without a cause, for in dode it touched him as nere as his shcrte, as you
well may perceiue by the Genealogy rehersed in the beginnyng of this story. For this fed-/
inond was sonne to Earle Roger whiche was sonne to Lady Philip doughter to Lionel! Duke
of Clarence, the third sonne to kyng Edward the third, whiche Edmonde at kyng Richardes
-going into Ireland, was proclaimed heire apparant to the crounc and realme, whose Aunt
called Elinor this Lord Henry Percie had Maried. i And therfore the kyng litell forced al-
though that that lignage were clerely subuerted and vtterly extincte.j <
J^WHEN the Jymgiiad long digested anijstudiedon this matter, he made aunswere and
sayd that the EarleoT Marche was not taken prisoner nt'itllUi1' for his cause nor in his ser-
uice, but willyngly suffered him selfe to be taken, because he woulde take no partc against*
Owen Glendor and his complices, and therfore he woulde nether raunsome nor releue hym,
E 2 which*
58 THE THIRD YERE OF
whiche fraude the kyng caused openly to be published and diuulged, with whiche aunswere
if the parties were angry doubt you not. But with the publyshyng of the cautell, that the
Earle of Marche was willyngly taken, they ten times more fumed and raged in so imiche
that sir Henry hotspur said openly: Behold the heire of the realme is robbed of his righte,
and yet the robber, with his owne, vvyl not redeme hym. So in this fury the Percies depart-
ed, nothyng more mindyng then to depose kyng Henry from the high tipe of his regalitie,
and to deliuer and set in his trone their cosyn frende & confederate Edmonde Earle of
Marche, whome they not onely deliuered oute of the captiuitie of Owen Glendor, but also
entered into a leage and amitie with the said Owen against king Henry and all his frendes
and fautours, to the great displeasure and long vnquieting of kyng Henry and his partakers.
Here I passe ouer to declare howe a certayne writer writeth that this earle of Marche, the
Lorde Percy and Owen Glendor wer vnwisely made belieue by a Welch Prophecier, that
king Henry was the Moldwarpe, cursed of Goddes owne mouth, and that they thre were the
Dragon, the Lion and the WolfFe, whiche shoulde deuide this realme bebvene them, by
•/ the deuiacion and not deuinatio of that mawmet Merlin. ^ I wyll not reberse bowe they by
their deputies injhehowse of the Archdeacon of Bangor, seduced witii that falce.faiucd
Proph£aie-.xkjLikled the realme amongest thef nojQ^~wTtteriioWB by U. ffipartie encteoture
sealed with their scales., all En.gl.an.tle from Seuerne and Trent South and Eastward, was
^assigne'd to the^ejJe^pJt^J^rj^^JliuEjiow all WaleV^i^QKeTanc[e£|bey^Kr^Tie*rne "West-
ward, were appoincted to Owen Glendor, ancTairthe remnaunt from Trente'Nortlnvardo
to"tl!i£JUl!tltLil<j|f6itr.' /But j wilr JecTare" to you that^whTcne' waS*B8n5?8pBe3led, that is the
confusion destruccion and perdicion of these persones, not onely geuyng credite to suche a
vain fable, but also settyng it forwarde and hopyng to attaine to the effecte of the same
whiche was especiall of the lorde Percie and Owen Glendor. For the erle of Marche was
euver kepte in the courte vnder suche a keper that he could nether doo or attempte any
thyng againste the kyng without his knowledge, and died without issue, leuyng his righte
title and interest to Anne his sister and heire, maried to Rycharde erle of Cambrige
father to the duke of Yorke, whose ofspryng in continuaunce of tyme, obteigned the
game and gat the garland. O ye waueryng Welshmen, call you these prophesies? nay call
theim vnprofitable practises. Name you them diuinacions? nay name them diabolicall
deuises, say you they be prognosticacions? nay they be pestiferous publishinges. For by
declaryng & credite geuing to their subtil & obscure meanynges, princes haue been deceiued,
many a noble nianne hath suffred, and many an honest man hath been begyled & des-
troyed.
KYNG Henry knowyng of this newe confederacy, and nothyng lesse myndyng then that
happened after, gathered agreatearmye too goo agayne into Wales: whereof the Erie
of Northumberlande and his sonne wer aduertised, by lorde Thomas erle of Wocester, and
with all diligence raysed all the power that they could make and sent to the Scottes whiche
before wer taken prisoners at Hamaldon for aide" and men, promisyng the erle Douglas the
tonne of Barwicke and a parte of Northumberlande: and to other Scotishe lordes greate
lordshippes and segniories, if they obteigned the vpper hande and superioritee. The Scot-
tes allured with desire of gain, and for no malice that they bare to kyng Henry, but some--
what desirous to be reuenged of their olde greues, came to the erle with greate compaignie,
and to make their cause seme good and iuste, they deuised certain articles by the aduise of
Richard Scrope Archebishop of Yorke, brother to the lorde Scrope, whom kyng Henrv
caused to bee beheded at Bristow as you haue heard before. Whiche articles thei shewed
to diuerse noble men and prelates of the realme, whiche fauouryng and concentyng to their
purpose, not onely promised them aide and succor by wordes, but by their writyng and
scales confirmed the same. Howbeit, whether it wer for feare, ether for that thei would be
lokers on and no dede doers, nether promise by worde or by writyng was performed; For all
y confederates them, abadoned, & at the daie of the conflict left alone the erle of Stafford
only
1
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 29
only excepte, which beyng of a haute corage and hye storaacke, kept his promise & Joined
with the Fercies to his destructi5.
THE lorde Percy with therle Douglas and other erles of Scotlad with a greate armie, de-
parted out of the Northparties, leuyng his father sicke (whiche promised vpon his amend-
ment & recouery without delay to folowe) and catue to Stafford where his vncle therle of
Worcester and he met, and there began to consult vpon their great affaires and high at-
tempted enterprice, there they exhorted their souldiers and compaignions to refuse no pain
for the auauncemente of the common wealth, nor to spare no trauell for the libertie of their
countree : protestyng openly that they made warre onely (to restore the noble realme of
^England to his accustomed glory and fredo, which was gouerned by a tirant and not by his /
law-full and right kyng. The capitaines s\vare and the souldiers promised to fight, ye & to*
dye for the libertie of their countree. When all thynges was prepared, they set forwarde to-
warde Wales, lokyng euery houre for new aide and succors, noysyng abrode that they came
to aide the kyng against Owen Glendor. The kyng heryng of the erles approachyng,
thought it policie to encounter with the before that the Welshme should ioyne with their
armie, and so include hym on both partes, and therefore returned sodainly to the toune of
Shrewesbury. He was skantely entered into the toune, but he was by his postes aduertised
that the erles with baners displaied and battailes ranged, wer comyng towarde hym, and
were so hole and so coragious, that they with light horses began to skirmishe with his hoste.
The kyng'perceiuyng their dooynges, issued out and encamped hymself without the Estgate
of the toune. Therles nothing abashed although their succors theim deceiued, embattailed
themselfes not farr from the kynges armie. And the same night thei set the articles whereof
I spake before, by Thomas Kaiton and Thomas Saluaine esquiers to kyng Henry, signed
with their handes and sealed with their scales, whiche articles (because no Chronicler saue
one, maketh rnecion what was the very cause and occasion of this great bloudy battaile,
in the whiche on bothe partes wer aboue fourty thousande men assembled) I \vorde for
wordeaccorolinff to my copie do here rchcrce.
WE Henry! Percy erle of Northumberland, high Constable of England, and Warden of
the West Marches of England toward Scotlande, Henry Percy our eldest sonne Wardein of
the Easte Marches of Englandc toward Scotlande, and Thomas Percy erle of* Worcester
beyng proctours and protectours of the comon wealth, before our Lorde Jesu Christe our
supreme iudge doo allege, saie and entende to prone with our handes personally this
instante daie, against the Henry duke of Lancastre, thy complices and fauorers, vniustly
presuming and named kyng of Englande without title of right, but onely ofthy guyle and
by force of thy fautors : that when thoufjifter thyne exile diddest entre Engfaude, thou<
madest an_olhe_to_ vs vpon the holy Gospelles bodely touched and kissed by thee at Dan-
castre that thou wouldest neuer claime the croune, kyngdom or state royall but onlv thyne
owne propre inheritance, and the inheritance of thy wife in EnglandeJ and that Richard our
soueraigne lord the kyng and thyne, should raigne during the terme of his life, gouerned by
the good counsail of the lordes spirituall and temporal!. Thou hast imprisoned the same thy
soueraigne lorde and our kyng within the toure of London, vntil he had for feare of death,
resigned his kyngdomes of Englande and France, and had renounced all his right in the
forsaid kyngdomes, and others his dominions and landes of beyonde the sea. Vnder coulor
of whiche resignacion and renunciacion by the counsaile ofthy frendes and complices, and
by the open noysyng of the rascall people by thee and thy adherentes assembled at West-
minster, thou hast crouned thy self kyng of the realmes aforsaid, and hast seazed and enter-
ed into all the castles and lordshippes perteignyng to the kynges croune, contrary to thyne
othe. Wherfore thou art forsworne and false.
ALSO we do alledge, saie and entend to proue, that wher thou sworest vpo the same
Gospelles in the same place and tyme to vs, that thou wouldest not suffre any dismes to be
leuied of the Clergie, nor fiftenes on the people, nor any other tallagies and taxes to be
leuied in the realme of Englande to the behoffe of the realme duryng thy life, but by the
consideracion
SO THE THIRD YERE OF
consideration of^the thre estates of (.119 realme, except for great nede in causes of impor-
tance or for the resistance oc our enemies, onely and none otherwise. Thou contrary to
thyne othe so made, hast done to bee leuied right many dismes and fif'tenes. and other im-
posicios and tallagies, aswel of the Clergie as of the comonaltee of the real ne of Engiande,
& of the Marchauntes, for feare of thy magestie royall. Wherfore thou art periured and
false.
"^ALSO we do allege, saie & entede to proue, that were thou sworest to vs vpon the same
Gospelles in theforsaied place and tyme, that our soueraignelorde and thyne, kyng Richarde,
should reigne duryng the terme of his life in his royall prerogatiue and dignitee : thou hast
caused the same our soueraigne lorde and thine, traitorously within the castell of Poumfret,
without the cosent or lodgement of the lordes of the realme, by the space of fiftene daies and-
so many r.ightes (whiche is horible etnong Christian people to be heard) with honger, thirst
and colde to perishe, to be murdered. Wherefore thou art periured and false.
ALSO we do alledge, saie & entend to proue, that thou at that tyme when our soue-
raigne lorde and thyne, kyng Richarde, was so by that horrible murder ded as aboue saied,
thou by extorte power, diddest vsurpe and take the kyngdome of Engiande, and the name
and the honor of the kyngdome of Fraunce, 'vniustly and wrongfully, contrary to thyne
othe, from Edmonde Mortimer Earle of Marche and of Ulster, then next and direct heire
of England and of Fraunce iniediatly by due course of inheritaunce after the deceasse of
of theforsaied Richard. Wherfore thou art periured and false.
ALSO we do alledge, saie & entend to proue as aforsaid, that where thou madest an othe
in the same place and tyme, to supporte and maintein the lawes and good customes of the
vealme of Engiande, and also afterward at the tyme of thy coronacion thou madest an othe,
thesaied lawes and good customes to kepe and conserue inuiolate. Thou fraudulently and
contrary to the lawe of Engiande and thy fautors, haue written almoste through euery shire
in England to chose such knightes for to hold a parliament as shalbe for thy pleasure and
purpese, so that in thy parliamentes no Justice should be ministered against thy mynde ir»
these our complaintes now moued and shewed by vs, vvherby at any tyme we might haue
any perfight redresse, notwithstanding that wee according to our conscience (as we truste
ruled by God) haue often tymes therof complained, as well can testifie and bere witnes the
right reuerend fathers in God Thomas Arundell archbishop of Canterbury, and Richarde
Scrope, archebishop of Yorke. Wherfore nowe by force and strength of hande before our
Lorde Jesu Christ we must aske our remedy and helpe.
-A ALSO we do alledge, saie and intende to proue, that where Edmod Mortimer erle of
Marche and Ulster, was taken prisoner by Owen Glendor in a pitched and foughten feld,
and cast into prisone and lade with yron fetters, for thy matter and cause, whom falsely thou
hast proclaymed willyngly to yelde hymself prisoner to thesaied Owen Glendor, and nether
wouldest dcliuer hym thy self, nor yet suffre vs his kinsmen to raunsome and deliuer hym:
Yet notwithstanding, we haue not onely concluded and agreed with thesame Owen for his
raunsome atourpropre charges and expences, but also for a peace betwene thee and the
said Owen. iWhy hast thou then not onely published and declared vs as traytors, but also
craftely and deceitfully imagened, purposed and conspired the vtter destruction and confu-
sion of our persones. For the whiche cause we defy thee, thyj^iutoures and complices as co-
men traytoures and destroyers of the realme, and the inuadours, oppressoures and confound-
crs of theverie true and righte heires to the croune of Engiande, whiche thyng we entend
with our hades to proue this daie, almightie God helpyng vs.
WHEN kyng Henry had ouerseen jheir_aEtide*4uid defiance*, he answered the esquiers
that he was redy with dent of swerde and fierce battaill to proue their quarell false'Jmd
fayned, and not with writyng nor slanderous wordes, and so in his righteous cause anertust
quarell he doubted not but God would bothe aide and assiste hym, against vntrue persones
and false forsworne traytours: with whiche answere the messengers departed. The next
daie ,in ihe mornyng early, whiche was the vigile of Mary Magdalene, the kyng perceiuyng
that
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 51
magfle battaill was nerer than he ether thoughte or loked for, leste that long tariyng might
imagninishyng of his strength, set his battailles in good ordre : likewise did his enemies,
conne bothe in puissance and courage were nothyng to hym inferiour. Then sodainly the
-_ hisjpettes blew, the kynges parte cried sainct George vpon them: The aduersaries cried
-llsperaunce Percie, and so furiously the armies ioyned. The Scottes whiche had the for-
ward on the lordes side, entendyng to bee reuenged of their old displeasures done to them
by the Englishe nacion, set so h'ersely on the kynges forward, that they made them drawe
backe, and had almost broken their arraie. The Welshemen also vvhiche sithe the kynges
departure out of Wales, had lurked and lien in woodes mountaignes and marishes, heryng
of this battaill towarde, came to the aide of the erles, and refreshed the wery people with
new succurs. When a fearful messenger had declared to the kyng, that his people were
beaten doune on euery side, it was no nede to bid hym stirre, for sodainly he approched
with his freshe battaill, and comforted, hertened and encouraged his part so, that they
toke their hertes to theini, and manly fought with their enemies. The prince Henry that
daie holpe muche his father, for although he wer sore wouded in the face with an arow,
yet he neuer ceased ether to fight where the battail was moste strongest, or to courage bis'— ,
men where their hertes was moste danted. This greate battail cotinued thre Ip»g4ioures
with indifferet fortune on bothe partes. That at the last the kyng criyng sainct George,
victory,~brake the arraie and entered into the battaill of his enemies and fought fiersely, and
auentered so far into the battaill, that the erle Douglas strake hym doune and slewe si?
Water Blonte, and three other appareled in the kynges suite and clathyng saiyng: I mar-
uaill to see so many kynges so sodainly arise again, the kyng wa& reised and did that daie
many a noble feate of armes. For as the Scottes write and Frenche men affirme, all
though that Englishemen kepe silence, that he hymself slewe with his handes that daie
xxxvj. persones of his enemies, the qther of his parte encoraged by his doynges, fought
valiantly and slew the lorde Percie called sir Henry hotspurre, the best capitain on the-
parte aduerse. When his death was knowen, the Scottes fled, the Welshemen ran, the
traitors wer ouercome, then nether wooddes letted, nor hilles stopped the fearfull hertes of
theim that were vanquished to flie, and in that flighte therle Douglas, whiche for hast fall-
yng from the cragge of amountagnie brake one of his genitals and was taken, and for his
valiantnes of the kyng frely & frankely delhier-ed. There was taken also sir Thomas Percie
erle of Worcester & diuerse other, oa the kyages parte wer slain sir Walter Blount and. xvi.
C. other persones, but on the parte of the rebelles were slain the erle of Stafford, Che lorde
Percie and aboue fi.ue thousand other, and as for the Scottes few or none escaped aline.
AIlTJlltabi^glariou3.yie^^^ kyng_ obte.igoed,-.b.fi ... Knde.rjjdJta.almigluje^ God his*
and hertie^-tliaftkesr-wuicaused tfieiie-flf .Worcester the innrg wa g\ffer_Mfl ry
ieine. at Shreweflbory-to-be-draweifttaBgeil aj^t^uartgred, anijjiisjied to be se n t_to_ Lo ndon,
at whicbe.,place oiany joao cajjitaines fiSL-fiiiSiSdD After this greate battaill, he like a
triumphante conqueror returned with greate pompe to London, where he was by the se-
nate and magestrates solemply receiued, not a little reioysyng of his good fortune and for-
tunate victorye. But before his departure from Shrewesbury, he not forgettyng his enter-
prise against Owen Glendor, sent into Wales with a great army prince Henry his eldest
sonne against thesaid Owen and his seclicious fautors, whiche beyng dismaied and in maner
desperate of all comfort by the reason of the kynges late victory, fled in desert places and so-
litary caues, where he receiued afinall reward mete and prepared by Goddes prouidence for-
suche a rebell and sedicious seducer. 'For beyng destitute of all cornforte, clreadyng to
shewe his face to any creature, lackyng meate to sustain nature, for pure hunger and lacke
of fode miserably ended his wretched life.' This ende was prouided for suche as gaue cre-
dence to false prophesies. This ende had they that by diabolical deuinacions were promised'
great possessions and seigniories. This ende bappeneth to suche as beleuyng such fantasticall
iblies, aspire and gape for honor and high promocions. WThen the prince with litle labor
and lesse losse, bad tamed & bridtled the furious rage of the wild and sauage Welshemen,, •
and!
32 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
atid lefte gouernors to rule and gouerne the countree, he returned to
honor & no small praise. The erle of Northumberland heryng of the
brothf-r andsonne, came of his owne free will to the kyng, excusyng hym..
party nor knowyng of their doyng nor enterprice : the kyng nether accused h»
excused, butdissimuled the matter for. ii. causes, one was he had Berwicke in his possession,
which the kyng rather desired to haue by polici then by force: the other was that therle
had his castellesof Alnewicke, Warkeworth and other fortified with Scottes, so that if therle
wer appreheded, all Northumberland wer in ieopardy to become Scottish. For jjiese causes
t kyng gaue hymjaire worries & let hym fflenart homq. whe^ he yontinaed inpeace a .while.
T>ut after he r^be}ied-aaj»a*i^iiMU^«<NMi»p^»4bajeflael£^f Lthis story. \'
f THE FOURTH YERE.
The. iiii. This yere \Valeram erle of sent Pole, considryng that he had defied kyng Henry, and
yere- also that he had made diuerse voyages, and done litle damage to the English nacion, and
susteigned rnuche losse, continuyng in his olde malice against the kyng of England, by the
assent of the Frenche kyng assembled a great numbre of men of warre, as. v. C. men of
armes. v. C. Genewaies with Crosebowes, and a. M. Flemynges on fote, and laied siege to
the Castell of Marke thre leages fro Caleis, within the territory of the kyng of Englande,
the. xvi. daie of July, wherof was capitain Philip Halle esquier, with. Ixxx. archers and.
xxiiii. other souldiers. Therle raised against the Castle diuerse engines but they preuailed
not, for they within shot so fersly, and cast out stones so incessantly, and toke suche pain'e
that to the hearers it is almoste incredible. The erle perceiuing that his feate had suche
successe as he loked for, retired with his men lodged in the toune, fortifiyng thesame for
fere of rescous that might issue from Caleis, the next day he gaue a sore assaute again, and
with great force entered the vtter court of the castle, and toke therein a great number of
hsrse kyen and catell, at the whiche assaut sir Roberte Barenguile cosin to therle was
slain. The same daie a. C. Archers on horseback comyng out of Caleis, sawe and percci-
ued the dooynges & demeanure of therle and his compaignie, and toward night theysentan
Heraulte certefiyng him that they would dine with him the next daie : to whom he proudly
answered, that he would gladly receiue them, and their dinnar should at their comyng be
ready prepared. The nexte daie ensuyng issued out of Caleis. CC. rnen of armes. CC. ar-
chers. CCC. me on fote with. x. or. xii. CharioUes laden with vitail and artillery, conducted
by sir Richard Astone knight, leuetenant of the Englishe pale for the erle of Somerset ca-
pitain generall of those marches: whiche in good ordre of battaill marched toward their
enemies, which before by their espials wer aduertised of their comyng, but that notwith-
standyng they issued not out of their lodginges to encounter with them, but kept them self
within their closure. f^The Englishmen shot so sharply and so closly together, that the Fle-
mynges and fotemen oegan to flie, the men of arrnes feryng the slaughter of their horses
ran awaie with a light gallop the Genowais whiche had spent the most part of their shot at
thassaut made litle defence and small resistence and so all were slain and put to flight. The
hasty & rashe erle of sent Paul & diuerse other without any stroke geuen to their enemies fled
to sent Omers, and there wer taken of the best of the armie, as the Frenche and Duche
Chronicle reporteth thre or foure score persones, emongest whom the capitain of Bullayne
was one, and many lordes and knightes slain. \ After that the Englishmen had taken all the
cartes munitions & vitailes that their enemies had brought thither, they returned to Caleis in
great triumphe, and within fiue daies after there issued out of the Englishe pale, about the
numbre of. v. C. men towarde Arde by night tyme, thynkyng to haue found the toune vn-
prouided, but sir Mansard de Boys and the lord Kygnie defended it and let the Englishe-
men of their purpose, and so with losse of fourty men they returned to Caleis : whiche
dedde persones wer brent in an old hous, because their enimies should be ignorate of the da-
mage
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 33
mage that the Englishemen had by them sustained. Therle of sent Paule beyng at Terwin,
imaginyng how to recouer somewhat of his losse but more of his honor, sente for a greate
compaignie of noble men and valiant personages, and cocluded to inuade the Marches of
his enemies. But the Frenche kyng consideryng the erles euil fortune and vnfoi tunate
chance, comauded hym to leue of his enterprise, with whiche he was sore displeased. Yet
to auoyd perelles, the Frenche kyng laid in garrison at Bullein and other places, the Mar-
ques of Pownt sonne to the duke of Barr, and therle of Dampnay, and sir Ihon IJarpadane
a knight of greate renoune and high estimacion. The kyng of England circuspectly for-
seyng thynges to come, and imagenyng that the Frenchemen attempted some newe enter-
price, against hym or his dominions beyonde the sea, sent. iiii. M. men to Caleis and to
the sea, whereof, iii. M. landed at Sluce, whiche besieged a castle standyng at the mouthe
of the hauen, and made diuerse assautes and lost diuerse of their compaignie, but newes
were brought to theirn, that the duke of Burgoyne had required licence of the Frenche kyng
to besiege the toune of Caleis, for whiche cause thei raised their siege, and returned to the
defence of that fortresse and desired praie of the Frenche nacion.
U THE FIFTHE YERE.
ABOUTE this season Loys Duke of Orliaunce brother to the Frenche Kyng, a man of The. v.
no lesse pryde then haute courage, wrote letters to Kyng Henry aduertisyng hym, that he >er
for the perfighte loue whiche he bare to the noble feates of chiualrie and rnarciall actes, in
auoidyng the slowe worme and deadely Dormouse called Idlenes, the ruiue of realmes and
confounder of nobilitie, and for the obteignyng of laude and renoune by deades of armes
and manly enterprises, coulde imagine or inuent nothyng either more honorable or laudable
to them both, then to mete in the feld eche parte with an hundred Knightes and Ksquiers,
all beyng Gentlemen bothe of name and armes armed at all pointes and furnished with
speares, axes, swerdes and daggers, and there to fighte and combate to the yeldyng, and
euery person to whom God shal send victory to hnue his prisoner, and him to raunsome at
his pleasure, offeryng hyin sclfe with his company to come to his citie of Angulesme, so that
the kyng of England wolde come to the laundes of Burdeaux and there defend this cha-
lenge. .The L kyng of England whiche was as graue and wittie as the duke was light and cou-
ragious, wrote to hym againe that he net a litell mused hut muche more rneruailed that the
duke beyng sworne as well to him as to kyng Richard to mainteyne the peace betweene his
brother the Frenche kyng and theym concluded, and to that had set his signe and great
scale, wolrie nowe for vainglory vnder colour of doyng dedes of Armes not onely violate the
peace and breake the amitie betwene them before concluded, but also gene an occasion of
displeasure and ingratitude, by the whiche in conclusion might rise mortall war and deadely
enernitie, affirmyng farther that no kyng anointed of very dutie was ether bound or obliged
to answere any chalenge but to his pere of egall estate and equiuolent dignitie, and that~no
Christian prince ether ought or shoulde consent to warre or effusion of christen bind but (
onely for the defence of his realme, or for conquest of his right, or for amplifiyng of Christes
faithe and chrhtian religion, and not for pride, worldly fame and vainglory, declaryng also '•
that when opportunity of time and conuenient leisure serueo\_jie would transfret and passe
the sea himselfe with suche company as he thought most conuenient into his countrey of
Gascoigne, at whiche time the Dukemyght set forward with his band for the attainyng of
Honour nnd accomplishing of his couragious desire and haute enterprise, promising in the
worde of a prince not thence to depart till the duke either by fulfillyng his owne desire, or ,
by singuler combate betwene them two, onely for auoidyng the effusion of Christen bloud,
shoulde thinke himself satisfied and fully answered. [Howbeit, at that time he beyng enbu-
sied with weightie affaires & vrgent causes concernyng the publike welthof his realme could
neither apoint time nor place, protestyug that the, deferryng of time was nether for disdaine
F nor
34 THE. VI.' YF.RE OF
. nor yet for cowardnes, hut only to abate the pride of him whiche knowyng not himself, nor
fering reproche, regarded not his othe writyrig nor scale. To this answere the duke of Or-
leaunce replied and kyng Henry reioyned, which doynges what for the vnprincely launtes
and vncharitablc checkes in them coteigned, and what for rehersyng againe thinges to you
-here before declared I omitte and put in obliuion. The duke of Orleaunce not content
with the king of England, assembled an armie of. vi. M. men and entered into Guien and
besieged the town of Vergy, wherof was Capitaine sir Robart Antelfelde a valiant knight
and an hardy captain, hauyng with him onely thre hundred Englishmen. The duke almostc
euery day assaulted the towne fiersely, but th«y within the towne couragiously defended the
same : In so much that when he had lien there thre monethes & had lost many of his men
and nothyng gotten, without honour or spoile returned into Fraunce. After this the Ad-
miral of Britayne whiche beyng highly elated and'muche encouraged because the laste yere
he had taken certaine Englishe shippes laden with wine accompanied with the Lord CastyH
a valiant baron of Britaine, and xii. C. men of armes, & xxx. shippes, sailed from sainct
Malovyes and came before the towne of Darthtnouthe and woulde liaue landed, but by the
puissaunce of the townsmen and aide of the countrey, they were repulsed and put backe in
whiche conflicte the Lorde of Castell with his two brethren with foure hundrcdc other were
slain, and aboue two hundred prisoners taken and raunsomed, wherof the Lord of Baque-
uile high Marshall of Britaine was one, whiche was brought to the kyns and after redemed.
The Admiral sory of this intbrtunate enterprise with muche Josse and no gain returned
hastely into his countrey. Kyng Henry being aduertised of this attempt, sent the Lord
Thomas his sonne whiche after was duke of Clarence to the sea with a gret nauie of shippes
to the entent eyther with battaill or depopulacion of the sea coastes bothe of Britaine and'
of Fraunce to reuenge this iniurie and inuasion he sailyng by the seacostes landed diuers times
•and fiered shippes & brent townes and destroied people without fauoure or mercie, and when he
thoughtehis quarell well reuenged lie sailed toward England, and in hisretournynghecncountred
with two great Carickes of leane laden with riche marchandise and substantial stuf betwene
whom was a greate confh'cte and a blouddy battell, but after long fightyng, the Englishemen
preuailed and brought bothe the Carickes into Camber before Rye, where one of them by mis-
auenture of fier perished to the losse and no gaine of bothe the parties. About this time
Ilion- duke of Burgoin whiche had long laboured and now obteined licence to besiege the
towne of Caleis, preparyng enginnes, ladders, cartes, and all other instrumentes necessary
and conuenient for so great a feate and notorious siege, and assembled at S. Omers vi. M.
men of armes, xv. C. Crosbowes, beside, xii. M. fotemen, hauyng vitail Bumbarde.s and
other municions of warre sufficient ami conuenient for his abrode blowen enterprise. But
when all thynges wer prepared and the hole army assembled lie was by the French kyng and
his councell (whiche put diffidence in the exploite of his glorious busines) counterrnaunded
£ prohibited farther to precede in that weightie purpose : for the which cause he conceiued
so great an hatred and deadely malice against the Duke of Orleaunce (as the onely stop and
let of his glory and renoume) that he euer after not only maligned and grudged against him
and his procedynges, but also (as you shall shortly heafe) brought him to death and finall
destruction. i
•f THE SIXT YERE.
•rhc.vi. I'N tnis yere tfie Earle of Northumberland whiche bare still a venemouS scorpion in his
?<*<>• cankered heart, and coulde not desist to inuent and deuise waies and meanes howe to be re-
uenged of kyng Henry and his fautours, began secretely to communicate his interior imagi-
nacions and priuie thoughtes with Richard Scrope Archebishop of Yorke brother to Willia.
lord Scrop treasorer of England whom- kyng Henry (as you haue hearde) beheaded at the
iowne of Bristow, and with Thomas- Mowbrey erle Marshal sonne to Thomas duke of
Norffolke, for kyng Henries cause before banished the realme of England, and with the
lordes
KYNG HENRY THE, IIIJ. 35
lordes, Hastynges, FauconbBidge, Bardolfe and cliuerse other. whiche he knewe to beare
deadely liate and inward grudge toward the kyng. After long consultation had, it was fil
nally concluded and determined amongest theyiu that all they, their frendcs and alies witli
all their power shoulde mete at Yorkcs wold at a day appointed and that therle of Northum-
berlad should be chefetaine and supreme gouernour of the armie, which promised to bryng
with him a great nomber of Scottes.
THIS sedicious conspiracy was not so secretely kept nor so closely cloked but that the
kyng thereof had knowledge, and was fully aduertised. Wherefore to preuent the time of
their assembly, he with suche power as he could sodainly gather together with all diligece
marched toward the North parties and vsed such a celeritie in his iourney that he was thither
come with all his hosteand power before the confederates hearde any inkelyng of his march-
yng forward, and sodainly there wer apprehended the Archebishop, the earle Marshal, sir-
Ihon Lampley, and sir llobart Plumpton. These personnes wer arrained, atteinted and
adiudged to die, and so on the Monday in Whitson weke all they withoute the Citie of
Yorke were beheadded. Here of nccessitie I oughte not nor will not forgeate howe some^f
folishe and fantastical! personnes haue written, howe erronius Ipocrites and sedicious Asses
haue endited, howe supersticious Friers and malicious Monkes haue declared and diuulged
both contrary to Goddes doctrine the honour of their prince and comrnen knowen veritie that r ,
at the howre of the executio of this Bishop (which of the Executioner desired to haue fiue •
strokes in remembraunce of the fiue woundes of Christ) the kyng at the same time sittyng at
diner had v. strokes in his necke by a person inuisible, & was incontinently strike with a
leprey, whiche is a manifest lye as you shall after plainely perceiue. What shall a man say of
suche writers whiche toke upon them to knowe the secretes of Goddes Judgement? what
shall men thinke of such beastly persons whiche regardyng not their bounden .du.tie, and
obeisance to their prince & souerain Lord enuied the punishment of trailers and torment of
offeders ? But what shall all men coniecture of suche whiche fauouryng their own worldly
dignitie, their own priuate auctoritie, their own peculiar profit, wil thus iuggle raile and
imagine fantasies against their soueraigne lord and Prince, and put theim in memorye as a
miracle to his dishonor and perpetual infamy: Wei let wise men iudge what I haue said.
Beside these persons, diuers other of thesaid conspiracie and faccio, the lorde Hastinges, the
lord Fauconbridge, sir Ihon Coluile of the dale, sir Ihon. Griffith were beheaded at Durham.
Therle of Northumberland hearyng his councelto be reueled and his confederates to be put
to execution and shameful death, fled into Scotland to his old frend George of Dunbarre
earle of the Marche, which the yere before was reuoked out of exile and restored to his
possessions name and dignitie, where he taried till the next Somer & then sailed into
France and after into Flaunders desyryng aide and assistence againste kyng Henry, but
when he sawe littel hope of comfort and that fevve willyngly were ententife to his request,
he accompanied with the Lorde Bardolffe muchc dismaied and more desperate returned
again to his trew frendes into Scotlande and there made his abode the hole yere abydynf
the fauour of Fortune and chaungc of his vnfortunate chaunce duryng whiche tyme the
kyng withoute any difncultie toke into his possession the towne of Barwicke, the castelles of
Alnewyke and all other Fortresses appertainyng to the Earle : and liyng at Berwycke he
caused to be put to death the Barons sonne of Greystocke, sir Henry Beynton, and Ihon
Blenkensoppe and fiue other as fautoures and workers of this newe inuented conspiracy.
When the kyng had thus appeased and asswaged that late begonne commotion, he sent his
son the prince of Wales accompanied with Edward duke of Yorke and a great puissance,
to encounter with the Scottes which by promise wer bound to ayde and assiste the confede-
rates and rebelles. But thei hearyng that the founders of the warre were apprehended and
put to deathe, made no haste forward but taried peacibly at home. So that the prince
entryng into Scotland and findyng no resistence, brent tounes spoyled villages and wasted
the countrey euery where as he passed, which thyng so muche,amased the kyng of Scottes
and his councel, that notwithstandyng that he had gathered and appoincted a greate hoste vn-
F 2 dcr
36 THE VII. YERE OF
der the conducte of the Erles of Douglas and Bowgham to resist the prince and his inuasions,
yet they sente Ambassadors to hym requiryng hym of peace and finall concord, whiche requeste
he vtterly denaied, but at their humble peticion he graunted them a truce for certaine monethes,
of the whiche they were botheglad and ioyous, and so the prince laden with pray and spoile
retourned with great gain to his father. While the prince thus infected the countrey of Scot-
lad on the land, sir Robart Vmfreuile vice Admiral! of England vexed the coutreys of Fyffe
and Loghdian on the sea coast, for he liyng in the Scottishe sea. xiiii. daies and etiery daie
landed on the one side or the other and toke praies spoyles and prisoners matigre the gret
powers of the duke of Albanie and the Erie Douglas, insomuche that he brent and toke the
town of Peples on their faire day and caused his men to mete Clothe with their bowes : and
with great gain retournyng to his shippes brent the Galiet of Scotland with many other ves-
sels, and sente Clothe vitail and diuers Marchandises to euery towne in Northumberland,
seltyng thereon no great price: Wherefore the Scottes called hyrn liobyn niendmarket.
The kyng about this time was newely vnquieted and perturbed, for notwithstandyng this
fortunate successe that he had obteigned in all his outward warres and interiour affayres, yet
some of his people bare suche a cankered hearte to warde hym that to expell hym from hi»
rule and dignitie they left no occasion vnsought nor deuise vnattempted. For sodainty
sprage out a fame of an vncertain auctour that king Richard was yet liuing in Scotland, to
whiche fable suche credite was geuen that if prudente policie had not forsene the sequele, it
had kendeled a greatter flame then within short space might haue well bene quenched or
cxtincte.
IT THE SEUENTH YERE.
Th«.vii, IN this sommer, the Pestilenciall plage so infected the Citie of London and the countrei
ycre. rofid about that the king durst not repaire thither nor yet nere to the confines of the same,
wherfore he departyng from the castel of Ledes, determined to take ship at Quinboroughe
in the Isle of Shepey, and to sail ouer to Lye in Essex and so to Plasshey, there to passe
his time till the plage were seased: and because certain pyrates of Fraunce were lurkyng at
the Temmes mouthe waityng for their pray, Thomas Lord Camois with certaine shippes of
warre was appointed to wafte ouer the king. When the kyng was on the sea, in the middest
of his iourney, whether the wind turned, or that the Lord Camois kept not a directe course^
or that his shippe was but a slugge. The Frenchemen whiche by all similitude had knowledge
of the kvngcs passage entered amongest the kynges nauie and tokefowre vcsselles nexte to the
kynges shippe and in one of the sir Thomas Rampston knight the kiuges vice chamberlain
with all his chamber sturFeand apparel, and folowed the kyng so nere that if his shippe had.
nat bene swift he had landed sooner in Fn;ce then in Essex, but by Goddes prouision and
fortunate chauuce he escaped the daunger and arriued at his appointed porte. The kyng
beyng sore moued with the lord Camois, caused him to be attached and endited that he con-
discended and agreed with the Frenchemen that the kyng in his iourney should be intercepted
and taken. On this poinct he was arraigned the last dajjatVQctober before Edmond erle of
Kent that day high stuard of the realnie, on which day were he giltie or giltless, fautie or
clore, culpable or innocent of that fact and doyng, he was by his peres found not giltie and
dismissed at the barre, hauyng restitucion bothe of his landes goodes and offices. In this
yere kyng Henry not onely desiryng newe affinitie with forein princes but also the preferment
of his line and progeny, sent the Lady Phylip his yonger doughter to Ericke kyng of Den-
marke, Norwey and Swethen which was conueighed thither with great pompeand therewith
muche triumphc maricd to the said kyng, where she tasted bothe welthe, and wo, ioye &
pain. About this season died sir Robert Knolles knight a man of great policie, wisclome and
experience in war which had bene a Capitayn from the time of Kyng Edward the. iii. till his
latter dayes, iu the whiche he beyng Gouernour of Aquitayne encombred with age resigned
1 his
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 37
his office to sir Thomas Belfford a valiaunt capytaine and returned to London, where he
disseased and was honorably buried in the Churche of the White Fryers.
f THE EYGHT YERE.
YOU haue heard before how kyng Robert of Scotlande being very aged and impotent, was The. via..
notable to rule and gouerne his realme, and how Walter his brother, beyingby hym created dukeyer<
of Albanie, (whiche was the firste duke that euer was in Scotlande) was made gouernor of
his brothers countree and dominion. After whiche office and preheminece by hym obteigned,
he so sore thirsted after the croune and scepter royal that he cared litle though the kyng his
brother and his two sones had been at Christes fote in heuen. And somwhat to further his
purpose, it vnfortunatly chaused that Dauy of Rothesay prince of the realme and eldest sonne
to the kyng, was accused to his father of diuerse heynous crimes, and in especiall of lasciuious
& dissolute liuyng, as rauishyng of wiues, deflouryng of virgins, and defyling of maidens,
•w her fore the kyng deliuered hym to his brother the gouernor, trustyng that by his good
coiMsaill and discrete aduertisemente he would not onely amend his life, but also to fall
to wisedom prudence and grauitie. Whe the duke had possessed part of his desired
pray, he sent his nephewe fro castle to castle, from prisone to prisone, from place to place,
and in conclusion lodged him in a toure within the castle of Franckelande, where with fa-
inyne he caused miserably to ende his life, puttyng a poore woman to painfull death, whiche
gaue to the Prince the milke of her brestes by a rede into the prisone. His death was long,
hidden from the king his lather, but in conclusio, the gouernor shewed to the king how
diuerse persones traiterously had murdered hym whiche wer apprehended and iudged to die,
& yet in their l;ues they neuer knew nor yet saw hym. The kyng notwithstandyng his bro-
thers excuse, doubted much thend of his other sonne named larnes, wherfore he priuely
prouided a shi[>, in the whiche he put the child beyng then of the age of. ix. yeres, under the
tuicion of the lorde Hery Senclere erle of Orkeney, willyng him to couey the prince into f.
realme of France if by any possibilitie he could thether attain. And if fortune should driue
hym on ^ cost of England, he wrote letters to the kyng of England, y tenor wherof in-
sueth.
" ROBERT Kyng of Scottes, sendeth gretyng to Kyng Henry of Englande, although by A letter
relacion of other persones I haue knowen before this tyme, what magnanirnitie, what cle-
inencie, and other infinite vertues be planted and roted in your royall persone, yet in the voy- Scottes..
age that you your self personally last made into Scotlad, I haue had manifest and open expe-
rience of the same. For whe you like our enemy inuaded our countrie, brent our tounes,
and destroyed our people, yet by the fauor that you shewed to suche places and people
whiche receined and fostered your noble father when he fled out of Englad (for feare of
rebelles whiche then sore afflicted his lande) we haue receiued altnoste as muche profit and
aduantage as we did hurte and damage, by your terrible warres and bloudy inuasions.
Wherefore I cannot but laud and praise your highnes & Judge your noble herte mete for a
kyngdo, but also I doloue and will not cease to loue you duryng my naturall life. And
notwithstandyng that realmes and nacions daily contende and make warre for glory rule
and empire, yet to vs bothe beyng kynges, no suche occasion is geuen to do as they do, or
to folowe their steppes or progression, but we (whiche is the duetie of a kyng) oughte to
striuewho shall prosecute other with moste humain fauor and continual ckmencie, and as
muche as we maie to be felowes, compagnios and alies, insinguler loue and perpetual amitie.
And as for suche causes as now be different and in discencion betwene vs and our realmes for
my part I shall endeuor my self to bryng all thynges to a good coclusion & mutuall confor-
mitie. And because that I now am in the same trouble and perplexitie for my children, that
your father was with the rebelles of Englande, I am compelled of very necessitie to desire
aide
38 THE. VIII. YERE OF
aide and seke coforte of forain princes and strange nacions. And although that by the help
of God and power of my people, I am able inough to kepe the same against all outwarde
powers and forain attemptes. Yet from the secrete malice of suche as lurke and bee daily
norished in my very bosome, I cannot kepe theim in suertie within myne owne dominion.
And yet in no other place thei can bee from that pestiferous conspiracy put in any sure de-
fence or perfight sauegard, except thei he preserued by the faith and fidelitie of good and iust
men. The worlde this tyme is so full of malice, so replenished with rancor, that whereso-
euer thatgolde or siluer (whiche bee instrumentes of mischief) maie enter or penetrate, there
•shalbe founde ministers prone and redy to do and perpetrate al detestable crimes and mis-
cheuous inuencions: But because I kuowe and perceiue your person to be endued with so
many notable vertues, and to be adorned with such Magnanimitie, fidelitie, iustiee, cle-
mencie, and finally, not onely to be replenished with the whole compaignie and felowship
of the vertues Moral, but also to be of that power, riches & puyssance that no prince in our
tyme, maie to your highnes be ether compared or assimuled, I beyng by your noble and
notable qualities allected and encoraged, most hertely require your helpe and humbly desire
your aide, relefe and comfort. For mine eldest sonne Dauid, (as I suspect and as the fame
runeth, althonghe I cannot yet thereof make a perfight proft'e) is muithered, by no comen
murther, by no open tliefe, by no notorious malefactor nor by no furious persone, but by
my brother his vncle whiche ought to haue protected and saued him, to whom I comitted the
gouernance of me, my children, my whole realme and all that I had, whiche vnnaturall
.kinseman hath not only killed my child, but hath shamefully slain and murdered hym with the
.moste cruell and miserable kynd of death, which Js famyne. And so he, which ought &
.whose duety was to haue aduoyded and put fro me the iniuries of all other persones, hath
afflicted me with the moste contumelie, the greatest iniury and manifest damage, that euer
subiecte did attempt against his Prince, or brother against brother, or enemy against
.kinseman. For he whom I made.gouernor to withstand the power and malice of mine outward
enemies, compasseth and imagineth how to destroy myne issue, and consequently myne
owne persone. Wherfore for the fauor that you here to Justice sent by God to mankinde,
and for the naturall loue and fatherly affection that you here to your children and posteritie,
I humbly require and hertely desire your magnificece, that this mine onely child, not onely
maie safely and surely liue vnder your defence and protection but also that you of your ac-
customed goodnes will vouchsaue to preserue and defende this the onely heire of my pos-
teritie from the malicious attemptes of his cruell kynred and ambicious consanguinitie. And
this the rather, for the remembrance both of your fathers chance, whiche in his necessitie
..found muche humanitic in our nacion, and also of the frailtie of worldly suretie, whiche
: assone changcth from good to euill, and from euill to worse, as the faire and redolent flower
this dale florisheth, and to morow widreth and sodainly vadeth. Requiryng you to haue in re-
membraunce, that if princes put their whole confidence only in their comon people, which
T>e more variable then the Wethercocke or wynd, and haue no outward frendes nor forain
nmitie, their empire is fallyng and their regiment very britell. But if princes be coupled in
.the chaines of indissoluble amide, and will mutually & faithfully defende their cornen ene-
mies, and aduoyde their manifest iniuries, there is no power or strength of the comen
people, that ether can hurte or cast theim from the throne: in suche a suretie is a kyng
.that so is garnished with the loue, fauor and amitie of outward princes and louyng neigh-
bors. Wherfore, if it may seme expedient to your high wisedome, to here this my lowly
requeste and louyng suete (whiche I thynke your clemencie will not reiect nor retell) my
desire is, that accordyng to the last truce concluded betwene yon and vs, in the whiche is
.conteigned that all men conueighyng letters from the one of vs to the other, should suerly
& sauely passe and repasse without any cotradiccio: That it would plese you not to breke
,nor deny the said liberty to this berer our only sone, but for your honor to kepe your pro-
mise sincerly inuiolated & .faithfully obserued. And thus the gracious God preserue your
noble person in your royal estate long to continew."
4 WHEN
KYNG HENRY THE. 1IIJ. S9
WHEN all thynges necessary were prepared, the mariners halsed vp their ankers and
departed from Bas castle with this young prince and Henry Percie sonne to the lord Percie
slain before at Shrewsbury, and by rigor pf tempest wer driuen on the cost of llolder-
-nes called Flamborough hed the. xxx. daie of Marche, where the yong prince for to re-
freshe liymselfe toke lande. He wroughte not so priuily, but he was knowen and taken with
all his copany, & conueighed to the kyngbeyngat Winsore, where he with dew reuerece deli-
uercd his fathers letter. When the letter was redde & vnderstand, the kyng assembled his
counsail to knowe what should be doen with this noble enfant. Some to whome the con-
tinual warres and daily battail was bothe displeasut and odious, affirmed that there could
not happen a better or a more surer occasion of peace and amide betwene bothe the realmes,
whiche beyng so offred, they would in no wise should be reiected but taken, consideryng that
this prince was sent thither, in trust of sauegard, in hope of refuge, and in request
of aide and comfort against his euill willers and malicous enemies: other (whose opinion
toke place) affirmed hyin to be a prisoner and so to bee ordered, for asmuche as he was
. taken the warre beeyng open, and that his father did not onely maintayne therle of Nor-
thumberland and other rebelles within his countrie and geue them great honors, but also sent a
.greate nombre of his nobilite against the kyng at- the battaill of Shrewesbery. W-herfore it
was agreed that he should be deteined as a prisoner, lawfully taken and duely appreheded.
When tidynges of this difinitiue sentence was shewed to his father, he tooke suche an in-*
warde conceit and so sore a penciffenes, that he ended his naturall life within a few inone-
thes after. Although the takyng of this young prince, was at the first tyme displeasant to
the realme of Scotlande: yet surely, after he and all his region had greate cause to reioyse
and thanke God of their fortunate chaunce and good lucke that insued. For where before
that tyme the people of Scotlande wer rude, rustical!, without any vrbanitie, hauyng litle ler-
uyng and lesse good maners, & good qualities least of all. This prince beeyng. xviij. yeres
prisoner within this realme, was so instructed and taught by his scholemasters & pedagoges
,apointed to him by the onely clemencie of the kyng, that he not onely florished in good learn-'
-yng ajid freshe litterature (as the tyme then serued) but also excelled in all poynctes of Mar-
ciall feates, Musicall instrumentes, Poeticall artes and liberal sciences. In so muche th;it;
at his returne from captiuitee, he furnished his realme bothe with good learnyng and ciuilL.
policie, whiche before was barbarous, sauage, rude & without all good nurtur. .
•f THE NYNETH YERE..
TIIERLE of Northumberland, whiche had been in Fraunce and other regions to oh- TH*. ix. .
teigne aide against kyng Henry, and had missed of his purpose, now puttc his whole confidence ycre*
in the Scottes, and in especiall in his olde frende George erle of Marche, and so assembled
a great power of the Scottish nacion to inuade Northumberland, and recouered diuerse of
his owne castles and seigniories, to whom the people without nombre daily resorted. Wher-
fore he entendyng to bee reuenged of his old greues, accornpaignied with the lorde Bar-
dolfte and diuerse other Scottes and Englishmen entredinto Yorke shire and there began to >
destroy and depopulate the countrie. Wherof the kyng beyng aduerttsed, caused a greate
army to be assembled and marched toward his enemies, but or the kyng came to -Notyng-
hani, Raufe Rekesbie shrife of Yorke shire, in the middest of February with the po^er of ;
the countrie, sodainlie set on therle and his compaignie, at a place called Bramhatn More,
• where after long fightyng, the erle and the Lorde Bardolffe and many other-wer taken and ^
brought to Yorke and there executed, and their heddes sent to London. .
AFTER this the kyng hauing knowledge that diuerse pirates wer wanderyng on the cost
of Englande, prepared a great armie furnished with men, vitaile and -.municions- of warre
mete & conuenient for such1 an enterprice, and in the beginnyng. of Marche sent to the sea,
lorde Edtnond- Hollande erle of Kent, chieftain of that crewe- and ar-mie. When the erle"
had-J
40 THE TENTH YERE OF
had searched all the coaste of Fraunce, and had founde not one pirate or sea robber, he vras
aduertised by his espials that they heryng of his armie, wer diuerted to the partes of Britayn.
Wherefore the said erle entendyng to be reuenged on them whiche he sougtit for, made his
course thether, before his arriual they had conueighed their shippes into the hauens, so that
he could not fight with them on the sea, wherfore lie launched out his botes and with his
fierce souldiers toke land and fiercely assaulted the towne of Briake standyng on the sea side.
The citiezens threwe out dartes, cast stones, shotte quarrelles and manfully defended their
•walles. In wliiche conflicte the erle receiued such a wound in his head that he departed out
of this world the. v. day after. The assailantes not dismaied but set a fire with the death of
their captaine like men desperate styll assaulted the towne and by fine force entered into the
same and set it a fier and slewe all that would make any resisteuce, and for lacke of a cap-
tain, the men of warre laden with praies and prisoners returned againe into Englande.
THIS Edmond erle of Kent was in such fauour with kyng Henry that he not alonely ad-
uanced and promoted him to highe offices and great preheminences, but also by his meane and
MO small coste obteigned for him the eldest doughter and one of the heires of the Lord I3ar-
nabo of Millaine brother to Lord Galeace whose sone also called Galeace murdervng his
vncle Barnabo made himselfe first duke of Millaine, for which marriage Lord Barnabo
paied to him an hundred M. Duccattes at the churche of saint Marie Oueryes in South-
warke at the day of the solempnite, by doen Alphos de Caniola. This Lucie after the death
of her husband by whom she had no issue, was moued by the kyng to mary with Ins bastard
brother the Earle of Dorcet a man very aged and il visaged, whose person nether satisfied
her fantasy nor whose face pleased her appetite, wherfore she preferring her own mind more
then the kynges desire, delityng in him the whiche shoulde more satisfie her wanton pleasure
then gaine her any profile, for very loue toke to husband Henry Mortimer a goodly yong
Esquier and a bewtifull Bacheler. For which cause the kyng was not onely with her dis-
pleased but also for mariyng withoute his licence he seassed and fined her at a great some
of money, which fine kyng Henry the. v. bothe released and pardoned and also made him
knyght and promoted hym to great offices both in England and Normandie, whiche sir Hen-
ry had issue by this Lady, Anne maried to sir Ihon Awbemond mother to Elizabeth Chan-
dos mother to Phillis maried to sir Dauie Halle capitayne of Caen, she had also issue Mari
maried to Ihon Cheddar and Luce espoused to sir Ihon Cressy. fThis yere by reason of Frostr \
—^ shepe and birds died without nomber, whiche continued fiftene weekes7
*[ THE. X. YERE.
Th«. x. ABOUTE this time Ihon duke of Burgoine a man of a quicke witte, desirous of rule, &
of a haute courage, being of great auctoritie ainongest the Frenche nacion to whome ciuill
discorde was more pleasure than fraternall amitie and mutuall concorde, began sore to
grudge and maligne against Lewes Duke of Orleance brother to the French kyng, because
that he was chefe of the kynges councell and ordered al thinges by his discrecion, because the
king his brother was (as you haue heard) fallen into a frensy and tlierfore meddled in no-
thyng. The duke of Orleance on the otherside beyng highly set vp in pride, began to dis-
dain and froune at the duke of Burgoin, because he perceiued that he aspired & gaped to haue
the supreme regimente in the publike affaires and weightie causes, thus the one would haue
no superior, and the other would haue no pere. This cancard disdain in shorte space grewe
to suche a hate, that all the realme of Fraunce was deuided into two faccions, thone parte
fauoryng the duke of Orleauce, and the other inclinyng to the duke of Burgoyne, whiche
deuisiou had almoste brought the realme of France to vtter ruineand perpetuafl confusion.
The Frenche kyng beyng sornwhat amended of his dissease, heryng of this controuersie be-
twene these two princes, set for theim bothe to Paris, where he reproued their pride, re-
buked their malice, and taunted their vngodly dooynges, in so muche that all the nobilitie
beygn
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ.
beyng present, Judged the displeasure to haue been bothe forgotten and forgeuen. But
high corages are not so sone abated, nor roted malice is not in hast plucked vp, for the
duke of Burgoyne still co passing the destruccion of the duke ofOrleance, appoyncted a se-
crete frende called Raft'e of Actouille, to bryng his purpose to passe. This Raft'e forgettyng
not his enterprise, assembled together a compaignie of suche persons as he moste trusted, &
as a Woltte gredy of his pray, when the duke of Orleance was commyng from the court in
the night season, he fiersly set vpon hym and shamefully slewe hym. When this murder
was published, the king lamented, the nobles grudged, and the comon people cried to God
for vengeance. The duke of Burgoyne iustified this act by the mouth of Master Ihon Petit
doctor in deuinite, whiche wrested scripture and doctors so far out of course, that his Justi-
fication within fe\ve yeres after was adiudged heresy by the whole vniuersite of Paris. The
French kyng, lest that greater mischief should ensue, was compelled to hide and cloke his
inward arfeccion and dolorus herte and to dissimule the matter, doubtyng lest the duke of
Burgoyne whose herte and haute corage he had well knowen before, (if he should proceade
against hym for this euill acte) would ioyne and take part with the Englishe nacion against
the realme of France. Wherefore after long consultacion had by the entreatie of the kyng
and other Princes of the bloud royall, Charles duke of Orleance sonne to duke Lewes lately
murdred, and Ihon duke of Burgoyne were reconsiled and brought to a fained concord and
a fainte agremente, eche of theim takyng a corporall othe vpon the holy Euangelists, neuer
after to disagre or renewe any displeasure for any thyng before passed. But what preuaileth
an othe where hertes still burne & malice continually smoketh, who careth for penury when
apetite of reuengyng daily encreaseth.
IN this case was the duke of Orleance whiche perceiuyng the king his vncle to beare
with the duke of Burgoyne, and to let the detestable murder of his father so lightly pasee
without pain or punishmet, alied and confederated hvmself with the dukes of Berry and Bur-
bon, & the cries of Alaunson and Arminacke, whiche reised agreate puissance of people,
and defied the duke of Burgoin and his cdplices as their mortall foo and dedly enemy. The
duke of Burgoine feryng the sequele of the matter (because ther was a mocio of mariage
to be had betwene the prince of Wales and his doughter) was somwhat the bolder to send
to the kyng of England for aide and succors against his enemies. Kyng Henry no lesse
forseyng then that whiche after ensued, whiche was that the discord of these two great princes
might turne his realme to profit and honor, sent to the duke of Burgoine, Thomas erle
of Arundell, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile lorde of Kyne, sir Robert Vinfreuile, and sir Ihon Grey
with. xij. C. archers, whiche toke shippyng at Douer and landed at Sluce. When thenglish-
men wer arriued in Flaunders, the duke of Burgoin with thenglishmen and all his power,
rode daie and night til he came nere to Paris, and ther the next daie after with hard fight-
yng and coragious shotyng, the Englishmen gat the bridge of saint Clow, whiche passed
ouer the riuer of Saine, and toke and slewe all the souldiers whiche the duke of Orleance
had left there in garrison to defend the bridge. Emongest whom sir Mansard de Boys a
valiant capitain was taken prisoner by the Englishemen & highly raunsomed. But the duke
of Orleace and his compainy whiche wer like to haue been compassed with their enemies, so
that almost al their waies of refuge were stopped and enclosed, in the nyght tyme made a
bridge ouer the riuer on the part of saint Denis strete, & so escaped & fled into the high cou-
tries. And after this conflicte the duke of Burgoyn beyng now in his ruffe thin kyng no
man ether in aucthorite or bloud equiuolente to his person, and blinded with a kail of vain-
glory before his ieyes, toke vpo him him the hole rule and gouernance of the realme and or-
dered the kyng as pleased him, and not to the kinges wil, and thinking that in so trobelous
a season he had vnknit the knot of all ambiguities & doubtes perceiuingall thynges to haue
better succeded for his purpose then he before imagined, dismissed Thenglishmen into their
countrey geuing to them harty thankea and great rewardesj Which doyng king Hery much
disalowed, consideryng that he had sent away his defence before the great brunt of the war
wer ouerpassed, & shuld haue taken hede before what policie his enemies had practised or
G what
42 THE. XII. YEIIE OF
what puissance they had assembled. For he well remebred that one faire daieassufeth not a
good Sommer, nor one fliyng Svvalovv prognosticated! not a good yere.
f THE ELEUENTH YEIIE.
ih.xi. Kyng Henry nowe beyng quiet & not molested with ciuil discencion nor domesticali
factions called his high court of parliamente i« the whiche after he had concluded diuerse
Actes mete and expedient for the publike welth of his realme and people, he exalted and
promoted his thre yonger sonnes to hie honors, as lorde Thomas to the Duchie of Clarence,
lorde Ihon to the duchie of Bedford, & lorde Humphrey to the cluchie of Glocester, and
lord Thomas his halfe brother erle of Dorcet he made duke of Excester. Howbeit some
wTherj3_sai£ he was erected to that estate and dignitie by kyng Henry the. v. in the first yere
of his reigne, whiche thyng is nether materiall nor disputable consideryng he had none issue.
f
1T THE TWELFTH YERE.
The. xii. While these thynges wer thus doyng in England, Iho duke of Burgoyn which ruled
the rost and gouerned both kyng Charles the Frenche kyng and his whole realme, so muche
stomakedand enuied the duke of Orlifice & his fautors that he caused the Freeh kyng in per-
son to arme himself against them and their adherentes, as traitors to liym and apparat ene-
mies to the comon welth, & sent diuerse eapitaines to inuade their landes and territories in
the countrees of Poytiers and Angulesme, & other seigniories aperteinyng and belongyng to
the homage and obeisance of the duchie of Aquitain & Guien. Wherfore the dukes of
Orleance, Berre, and Bui bon with their fi edes and alies, scyng that now their onely hope
consisted in the kyng of England, sent to hym Alberte Aubemound a man of no lesse lern-
yng then audacite, & yet of no lesse audacitie, then wit and policie, whiche in the name of
the confederates offred certain codicions as you shall here after accordyng to myne aucthor
truly reported, whiche wer made & cocluded in the yere of our Lorde. M.CCCC.xij. the.
viij. dale of Maie.
FIRST, thesaid lordes offred that fro thece furth thei should expose and set furth their
owne persons, finances and lades to serue the kyng of England his heires and successors,
when souer thei wer required or called in all hist quarelles: whiche iust quarelles the kyng
of Knglade shall take to aperteigne to the duchie of Guyen with the appurtenances, affirna-
yng how thesaid duchie perteigneth and ought to apertain to hym of righte by lineall heritage
and lawfull succession, manifestyng from thence furthe, that thei should not blemishe nor
spotte their truthe nor fidelite to assiste and aide hym in recoueryng thesame duchy.
ALSO thesaied Lordes offered their sonnes, doughters, nephewes and neces, parentes
and all their subiectes, to contract mariage accordyng to the discrecion of the kyng of En-
glande.
ALSO thei offred tounes castles tresures, & generally al their goodes to ayde the kyng his
heires and successors for the defence of their rightes and quarels, so that the bonde of
their allegiance might be saued, the whiche in another secrete apointment they before had
declared.
ALSO thei offred to the kyng of England generally al their frendes adherentes alies and
well willers to serue him in his quarel for the recouery of the hole Duchie of Guien.
ALSO to cease al fraude, the sayd lordes recognised that they were ready, to affirme the
saied Duchie of Guien to belong to the kyng of England, in like and semblable wise in li-
berty and franchises, as euer any of the said kynges predecessors held or possessed the
same.
ALSO the said lordes knowledged that al the townes castels and fortresses that they had
1 within.
KYNG HENRY THE, IIIJ. 43
•within the Duchie of Guien, to holde them of the kyng of England as the very trewe duke
of Guien, promisyug all seruice and homages after the best maner that in suche case might be.
ALSO they promised to deliuer to the kyng as much as laie in the all townes and castelles
apperteinyng to the roialtie and seignorie of England, whiche are in 'nombcr. xx. what
townes and castels, and as to the regarde of other townes and fortresses whiche were not iu
their puissaunce and seigniory, they woulde healpe the kyng of England his heires and
deputies to winne them with men in sufficiente number at their propre charges and cxpences.
ALSO the kyng of England was agreed that the duke of Berry his trewe Uncle and* vas-
salle and the duke of Orleance his subiecte and vassalle and the Earle of Arminacke shoulde • v»m\ik
holde of hym by homage and fealtie the landes and seigniores hereafter folowyng, that is to£"iVth"
saye the Duke of Berry to holde the Countie of Pontiew duryng his life, and the duke ofi»°nd« or
Orleaunce to hold the countie of Angulesme duryng his life onely, and the countie of Per- clfT"^"
rigot for eucr, and the Erie of Annniacke to holde. iiii. castels vpon certain sureties and tie °r HO-
condicions as by indenture should be appointed.
FOR the which offers couenauntes and agrementcs they affirmed that the kyng of England
as Duke of Guien, ought to defende & succour them against all men as their very Lord and
soueraigne, and not to conclude any treatie of leage with the Duke of Burgoine, his bre-
thren, children, fi endes or alies.
FURTHERMORE, the kyng of England ought to ayde the sayd Lordes as his trewe
vassals in all their iuste quarels for recoueryng of damages for iniuries to them wrongful-
ly done. <)} Vi
ALSO they required the kyng of England to send to the. viii. thousand men to ayde
them againste the Duke of Burgoine, whiche daily prouoked the French kyng to make open
warre on them, their landes and seigniories, promisyng farther to disbouice and pay all the
costes and charges whiche the sayd armie of Englishmen should expend duiyng their waire,
whiche letter was written the. viii. day of May.
KYNG Henry louingly receiued & gentely enlertayned this messenger Albcrte, and
when he had well debated and considered the case,:#he first detesting the abhominable mur-
der of the late duke of Orliaunce and seyng no lustjce ministred nor no punishment done
for so shamefull an acte, hauyng also approued experience that the Duke of Burgoine
wolde kepe no longer promise then he him self listed. And secondarily consideryng what
large offers these Princes had made to him bothe greatly to his honour and to the high pro-
fit and commoditie of his realme and subiectes, thought that he was b'ounde by the office of
aTKyiig to ayde and succour theym whiche cried for lustice and could liaue none, and in espe-
ciall because they in that point beyng his subiectes and vassalles ought to be defended in
maintenaunce of his superioritie and seigniorie: wherfove he louyngly promyscd them aide
and relefe. This return of the messenger was to them as pleasant as is the deliuerance of a
captiue fro his sore imprisonment, or of a marchant passyng by the way beset about by
Thcues, beyng reskewed by his frendes or copanions. And not without cause, for the , * Ars"'-
French king not of his owne courage animated, but maliciously encesed by the duke of Ari'to" °L
Burgoyn, persecuted the faction of the Orliaunces from citie to citie from tovvne to towne, v-kins.of
with such power and extremitie that they were bothe of force and necessitie compelled to
repaire to the Citie of Bourges in Berry, and there to appoincte theym sdfes ether to ren-
enemy to the Englishmen into the parties of Picardy with nYten C. horseroe and a groat ^fcSST""
nomber of fotemen, he ordeined certain of his men to gene assaulte to the tonne of Guisnes J MI&I,
while he stode in a stale to lie in w'aite for the relefe that myght come from Caleis. The fhe Poet"
furious Frenchmen brake a fewe old pales about pore mens gardcins of Guisnes, but the tapem*
men of warre of the Castell shotte so fiercely at them with arowes and caste oute wildeficr h?**5"'*
in swche abundance that the assailantes were faine to retire. And so the erle of sainct kpses*
GS Paule
41
The. xiii,
ytre.
THE. XIIII. YERE OF
Paule whiche neuer wonne gain but loste honor at the Englishe mens handes, returned no
onely with losse of his people but defrauded of his desired pray, returned to the toune of
Saint Quintins.
If THE. XIII. YERE.
THe Frenche kyng in the meane seaso by the enticement of the duke of Burgoine layd
sege to the citie of Bourges in Berry where the duke of Orleance and his confederates had
included and fortified themselfes. When the kyng of England was thereof aduertised, he with
all diligence sent forthe his sonne Thomas duke of Clarence, and Edward duke of Yorke
with. viii. C. horsrnen and. ix. thousand archers whiche toke land in the bay of Hogges in
Normandy by sainct Waste in the territory of Constantine. Thenglishemen swarmed like
Bees rounde aboute the countrey, robbyng Marchantes, spoilyng husbandmen and brennyng
townes, and were ioyously receiued of the Erles of Alauson and Richmond fautors of the
Ofliencial part. The councel of Fraunce not willing that the Englishmen should ioyne or
concurre with the Dukes of Orleaunce and Berry or their complices, caused a common fame
( although it were not trewe) to be diuulged abrode that there was a finall peace and a perfit
amide concluded betwene the Frenche kyng & his lordes whiche lately were to hym aduer-
saries. When this fable was notified to the Englishmen whiche were by hasty iourneys passed
the ryuer of Leire, they spoiled the towne and Monastery of Beauliew, and wasted with
fire and swerde the countreis of Touraine and Maine. Against whom the duke of Burgoyn
sent the lord of Rambures with a great armie, whiche in short time was before vanquished.
The Dolphyn of Fraunce fearyng the doynges of the Englishemen concluded a fayned peace
betwene the dukes of Orleaunce and Burgoyne and their adherentes, so that the duke of
Orleaunce should without delay dispatche out of the dominions of Frauuce all the English
armie. The duke was not rich to paie, and the Englishmen were gredy to haue, in so
muche that they marchyng toward Guien in good order what by sackyng of townes & what
with raunsomyng of riche persones, gat great treasure and many good prayes. Beside this to
the aide of the duke of Orliaunce king Henry sent to Caleis therles of Kent and Warwike
with. ii. thousand fightyng men whiche spoiled & defaced the countie of Bullenois, and
brent the towne of Samer de Boys and toke with assault the fortresse of Russalte with diuers
other. The duke of Orleance which was daily called on to dispatche the Englishemen out
of Fraunce, came to the duke of Clarence and his army rendryng to them a M. gramercies and
disbursed to them as muche money as ether he or his frendes myghte easily spare: and for
two hundred and. ix. M. Frankes which remayned vnpaide he deliuered in gage his second
brother Ihon erle of Angulesme whiche was Grandfather to Frances afterward French king
and sir Marcell of Bourge, sir Ihon of Samoures, sir Archibault of Viliers and diuers other,
which earle long continewed in Englande as you shall perceiue hereafter. When this
agrement was taken, the dukes of Clarence and Yorke with gret pray (riche prisoners, and
welthy hostages) came to Burdeaux makyng warre on the frontiers of Fraunce, to their
greate gaine and profitable lucre. So by the onely commyng of the Englishmen into
France the duke of Orliaunce was^je^tored not onely to peace and quietnes with al- persons
saue the duke of Burgoyne : But also fell in suche fauour with the kyng & the realm that he
was of all men welbeloued, muche honored and highly cstemed, and so continewed till wa- ,
^v ^-uering^Fprtujie turned her variable whele. For after this he beyng enemy to the Englishe
•"* nation was vanquished and takeiy prisoner and so remained in Englande aboue. xxiiii. yeres,
till the flower of his age was passed or sore blemyshed.
1 THE FOURTENTH YERE.
Tie. *iuj. AFter these great and fortunate chaunces happened to kyng Henry, he perfightly re-
membring that there could be no more praise geuen to a prince then to execute his office in
4 admin-
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 45
administryng Justice whiche aboue all thyng is the very necessary minister to all people, en-
tendyng to Hue in quietenes, beyng now deliuered of al Ciuilldeuision and intestine discen- " /
cion, with the which almost all Christendom was infected and disturbed, not onely to the
gret decay of Christes religion and Christian creatures but to the great exaltacio of Painiin
princes, by the dilatyng of the pestiferous sect of the false counterfait prophet vainglorious
Mahumet : called a great cousail of the thre estates of his realme, in the whiche he delibe-
rately consulted and concluded aswell for the politike gouernance of his realme as also
for the war to be made against the Infidels, and especially for the recouery of the holy Citie
of Jerusalem, in whiche Christian warres he entended to ende his transitory life, and for
that cause he prepared a great army, and gathered muche treasure, entending to set forward
in the same spring time. But se the chaunce, what so euer man intendeth God sodainly
reuerseth, what princes will, god wil not, what we thinke stable, God sodainely maketh
mutable, to the entent that Salomons saiyng might be found trewe, which wrote that the wis-
dome of men is but folishnes before God. When this Prince was thus furnyshed with trea-
sure sufficient, with valiant capitaines and hardy souldiers, with tall shippes furnished with
vitayles municions and all thynges necessary for suche a iourney roiall, he was taken with
a sore sodain disease and laied in his bed : whiche disease was no Lepry stryken by the
handes of God asfolish Friers before declared, for then he neither would for shame, nor for
debilitie was able to enterprise so great a iourney as in to lewrie in his own person, but he
was taken with a sore * Apoplexye of the whiche he languished tyll his appoyncted howre, '
and had none other grefe nor malady. Duryng whiche sickenes as Auctors write he caused
his crowne to be set on the pillowe at his beddes heade and sodainly his pange so sore tro- dered of
beled him that as he lay as though al his vitall sprites had been from him departed : suche Sow to<
chamberlains as had the cure and charge of his bodyc thinkyng him to bee departed and *i>ichcm
deade couered his face with a linnen cloth. The prince his sonne being therof aduertised, oTt^r56'3
entered into the chamber and toke away the crowne and departed: the father being sodainly heade f'om
reuiued out of his traunce quickly perceiued the lacke of his crowne, and hauyng know- ftiyngoftht
ledge that the prince his sonne had possessed it, caused hym torepaire to his presence, re- body com-
quiryng of him for what cause he had so misused hlselfe. The prince with a good audacitie therefore"
answered, sir to mine and all mennes iudgemetes you semed deade in this world, wherfore jh<ywh'il'e
I-II • n II /• • • . i "aut t"ls
I as your next & aparant heir toke that as mine own & not as yours: well faire son said the disease are
kyng (with a gret sigh) what right I had to it & how I enioied it God knoweth, wel qh the f/,11"1 °f
prince if you die kyng I wil haue the garlad & trust to kepe it with the swerd against all mine
enemies as you haue done: well said the kyng I comit all to God & remeber you to do well,
and with that turned himself in his bed & shortly after departed to God, in a chamber of
the abbotesof Westminster called Jerusalem the. xx. day of March in the yere of our Lord
M. iiii.-C. xiii. and in the yere of his age. xlvi. when he had reigned, xiii. yeres, v. monthes &
odde dales in muche perplexitie and littel pleasure, whose body with all funerall pope was co-
ueighed to Canterbury, and there solemply buried, leuyng behind him by the lady Marie
daughter to lord Hufrey erle of Hereford & Northapton, Henry prince of Wales, Tho-
mas duke of Clarece, Iho duke of Bedford, Humfrey duke of Glocester, Blanche duches
of Bauier & Philip Quene of Denmarke. for by his last wife Quene lane he had no chil-
dren. This kyng was of a mean stature, wel proporcioned and formally compact, quicke
and deliuer & of as tout courage. After that he had appeased all ciuile discecions he shew
ed him selfe so gentely to all men that he gat him more loue of the nobles in his latter daies
then he had malice and il will of them in the begin nyng. When tidynges of his death was re-
lated to,the duke of Clarence beyng in Aquitayri, he with all diligent celeritie toke shipwit-h
therle of Angulesme, and other his hostages & returned into England to the great cotbrt
of his brethren.
The end of the vnquiet tyme of kyng Henry the fourth.
THE
THE VICTORIOUS ACTES OF KYNG HENRY
THE FIFTH.
Tke.-i.y«e. T TEnry Prince of Wales, sonne and heire to kyng Hery the. iiii. borne at Monmouth
A JL on the lliuer of Wye, after the obsequies of his noble paret soleply celebrate and
supteously finished, toke vpon him the high power £ regiment of this realme of Englande
the xx. daie of Alarche in the yere after that Christ our sauior had entered into the immacu-
late wobe of the holy Yrirgin his naturall mother a thousande foure hundred and. xii. and
«-v wascrouned the. ix. dale of Aprill then nextensuyng, and proclaimed kyng by the name of
V£f kyng Henry the. filth. Before whiche royall possession so by hym obteined, diuerse noble
men and honorable personages did to hym homage, liege and swaredewe obeisance (whiche
-^> thyng had not been before expjjrimeted) as to hym in whom they conceiued a good expecta-
cion bothe of his verteous beginnynges and also of his fortunat successe in allthynges whiche
shoukl be attempted or begonne duryng the tyrne of his prosperous reigne and fortunate
Empire.
THIS kyng, this man was he, whiche (accordyng to the olde Prouerbe) declared and
shewed that honors ought to change mariers, for incontinent after that he was stalled in the
siege royall, and had receiued the croune and scepter of the famous and fortunate region,
determined with hymself to put on the shape of a new man, and to vse another sorte of
liuyng, turnyng insolencie and wildnes into grauitie and sobernes, and waueryng vice into
constant vertue. And to thentent that he would so continue without goyng backe, & not
thereunto bee allured by his familier copaignions, with whom lie had passed his young age
and wanton pastime & riotous misorder (insomuche that for imprisonmente of one of his
wanton mates and vnthriftie plaifaiers he strake the chiefe Justice with his fiste on the face.
For whiche offence he was not onely committed tostreight prison, but also of his father put
out of the preuy counsaill and banished the courle, a,nd his brother Thomas duke of Clarence
elected president of the kynges counsaill to his great displeasure and open reproche) he
therfore banished and seperated fro hym all his old flatterers and familier compaignions,
(not vnrewarded nor yet vnpreferred) inhibityng them vpon a greate pain not once to ap-
procbe ether to his speche or presence, nor yet to lodge or soiourne within ten miles of
his courte or mansion. And in their places he elected and chose men of grauitee, men of
witte, and men of high policy, by whose wise counsaill and prudente instruction he mighte
at all tymes rule to his honor and gouerne to his profite. This prince was almost the Ara-
bicall Phenix, and emogest his predecessors a very Paragon : For that he emongest all go-
uernors, chiefly did remembre that a kyng ought to bee a ruler with wit, grauitie, circurn-
speccion, diligence and constancie, and for that cause to haue a rule to hym comitted, not
for an honor, but for an pnorarious charge and daily burden, and not to looke so muche
on other mennes liuynges, as to consider and remembre his owne doynges and prOpre actes.
For whiche cause, he not to muche trustyng to the readinesse of his owne witte, nor to the
iudgementes of his owne waueryng will, called to his counsaill suche pmdent and politique
personages, -the whiche should not onely help to ease his charge & pain in s-upportyng the
burden of his realme and Empire, but also incense and instruct hym with suche good rea-
•sons and fruitefull perswasions, that he might shewe hymself a synguler mirror and manifest
-example of moral vertues and good qualities to his cornen people and louiog subiectes. For
it is daily seen, that a vicious prince doth muche more hurtc with his pernicious exaple to
other
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 47
other, then to hymself by liis owne peculier offence. For it is not so muchc cuill as Cicero
saicth (although it bee cuill in it self) a prince to do cnill, as ho by his cuill doyngeb to cor-
rupt olhcr, because it is daily seen, that as princes chage, the people altercth, and as kyngcs
go, the subiectes folovvc. 1'or certainly he that is preferred to high autlioritee, is therefore
nuiche exalted and had in honor, that he should rule, ouerse and correct the mantrs and
codicions of the people, and vigilantly to forsee and daily study how to acquire to.iiymself
lauclc and glory, and to other profile and comodite, and not to delight in \vordly pleasures
whichc are commen emongest the lowest sorte of the vile and rusticall people. And he that:
Mill do not-hyng nor can do nothyng is more worthy to be called a sernant then a ruler, £
a subiect rather then a go«crnor. For what can bee more shame or reprociie to a prince,
then he whiche ought to goueme and rule other shall by cowardncs, slouth and ignorance
as a pupille not of. viii. or. x. yercs of age, but beyng of. xx. or. xxx. yores and more,
shalbe compelled to obey and folowe tlie willes of other, and be ruled and beare no rule,
'like a ward and not like" a garde, like a seruant and not like a Master. Suche a gouernour
was kyngllicharde the secondc, whiche of hymself bcejng not of the most euill disposition,,
was not of so symple a minde, nor of suchc debilite of witte, nor yet of so litle herte and j
corage, but he might haue demaunded and learned good and profitable counsaill, and after/
aduise taken, kept, retayned and folowed the same: But howsoeuer it was, vnprofitable.;
counsailers wer his confusion and finall perdicion. Suche another ruler was kyng Edwarde
the seconde, wliiche two before named kynges fell from the high glory of fortunes whelc.1 to
exstreme misery and miserable calainittee. 13y whose infortunate chance (as I thynke) this
kyng Henry beyng admonished, expulsed from hyin his old plaie felowes, his prcuie Sico-
]>hantes and viigracious gard as authors and procurers of al mischifes and .riot, and assign-
ed into their, places men of grauitee, persons of actiuitee, and counsaillers of greate witte
and pollicie.
AFTER (hat he had laicd this prudent and polletique foundation, . he erjtendyng in his
mynd to do many noble and notable actes, and remembrynglhat all goudnee Cometh of God,
and that all worldly thynges and humain Actes bee more weaker and poorer then the celestial!
powers £ heuenly rewardcs, determined to begin with some thyng pleasaunt and accepta-
ble to God; Wherefore he first commaunded the Clergie syncerely and truly to prcache the
worde of God and to line after thesame,- so that they to the ternporaltec might be the Lan-
ternes of light and mirrors of vertue. The laie men he willed to serue God and obey their
prince, prohibityng to them aboue al thynges brechc of matrimony vse of sweryng & wilful
penury, exhortyng bothc to loue together as man with wife or brother with brother. Be-
side this he elected the best learned men ia the lawcs of the realme to the offices of iuslice,
and men of good liuyng he preferred to high degrees and authoritec.
THE madnes of the Welshemen and Scottes (whose often incursions and robberies he •
\vel had in his fathers daies experimented and assaied) he studied to asuage and re-
presse, to the intent that he beeyng quiet in his o-wne regions, might ether make outward
warre without doubte or dangier, or els for the commen wealth of his realme. to study haw.
to encreace the glory of his seigniory, & so both kepe £ conseruc it.
WHEN all thynges were thus settled and framed to. his purpose, .he caused , the body of
kyng Richard the second to be remoucd witliall funerall pompes conueniente for his estate, ,
from Langely to Westminster, where he was honorably enterred with Quene Anne his firste
wife in a solempne toumbe erected and -set vp at the costes and charges of this noble prince
kyng Henry.
ALTHOUGH this prudente prince and this pollitique gouernor had set and established
all thynges beyng in difference and variaunce within his owne peculier realmes, countrees
and territories and confines of thesame: yet he nothyng lesse forgetting nor no one thyng
more myndyng or desiring, then theceassyng of the long scisme and deuision sproi>g.£ con-
tinued in the catholike churche of Christian religion by the moste ambicious desire and
auaricious appetite of certaine persones callyng tlicmselfes spiritual! fathers, but in dee.de
carnall
48 TIJE. L YERE OF
X
carnall couclcotirs and grcdy glottos aspiryng for honor and not for vertue to the proad
see of Rome, desiryng more to pille then to profile Christes flocke or Christian religion,
hauyug knowledge tlial a general! counsaill was somoned to bee celebrate and kept at the
fa ire citee of Constance vpon tiie riuer of Ryne, thought that it was not his honor nor yet
his duetie, beyng thereof warned bv the Emperor Sigismond to bee as a hearer and no par-
taker in so high a ca.use, and in especiall in so high an assemble. Wherefore he sent the-
-ther Richard erle of Warwike and three bishoppes with other famous prelates and doctors,
besides knightes & esquires to the numbre of eight hundred horsses. They wer men so well
appareled and their horsses so richely trapped, and all the compaignie so well furnished,
that the Almaines wondred, the Italians gased, and all other nacions were astonnied to se
suche an honorable compaignie come from a countree so farre distant. At this Sinody were
assembled (as one authore writeth) CCC.xlvj. bishoppes, Abbottes and doctors v. C.lxiiij.
noble men, knightes and esquires, xvj. M. beside seruantes whiche (not accomptyng the
townes men) wer numbred. ixv. M. persones. These Ambassadours were highly receiued
of the Emperor Sygismond and of the Romishe bishop called Ihon the. xxiij. whiche in
thesame counsuill for greate and abhominable crimes and detestable offenses by hyni perpe-
trated andcomrtted (of the whiche he could not pourge hymself nor make any defence) was
by thesame Sinody accordyng to the demerites put doune and of his estate depriued. Grego-
ry the. xij. was one of the Scismatical numbre, fearyng shame more then regardyng his
wordly afleccion did putte doune hymself of his ovvne propre mocion from his foolishe vsurp-
ed name and Fopishe dignitee. But Benedict the. xiii. still and stifly affirmyng hymself to
be the very Viker of God, so muche desired honor, and so muche was wrapped in his
owne folishe and fantastical opinion, that no frend could persuade hym, nor argumet entice
hyrn, nor no reason refrain hym from thesame, and so accordyng to his desert by open Judge-
ment, against his wil, lost bothe name and honestie. And thre yeres after Otho Columbe
a noble Romainc borne was elected to the bishopricke of Rome and named Martyne the
fifth.
i IN this cousaill Ihon WiclifFe borne in England, and Ihon Husse and Iherom of Prage
Wer condemned to death. Duryng this firste yere, sir Ihon Old Castle, whiche by his
wife was called lorde Cobhatn, a valiant capitain and an hardy gentleman, was accused to
the Archbishop of Cauntorbury of certain poynctes of heresy. Whiche bishoppe knowyng
hym to be highly in the kynges fauor, declared to his highnes the whole accusacio.
The kvng first hauing compassion of the noble man, required the prelates that if he
were a straied shepe, rather by gentlenes then by rigoure to reduce hym to his old
flocke. After that he sendyng for hym, godly exhorted and louyngly admonished hym
to reconcile hymself to God and his lawes. The lorde Cobham not onely thanked
the kyng of his moste fauourable clemencye, but also declared firste to hym by mouthe
and afterwardc by writyng the foundacion of his faith, the ground of his belefe and
the botome of his stomacke, affirmyng his grace to be his supreme hed and competent iudge
& none other persone, oiFeryng an hundred knightes and esquires to come to his purgatio,
or els to fight in open listcs with his accusers. The kyng not onely knowing the lawes of the
reame, but also persuaded by his counsaill, that hereticall accusacions ought to be tried by
the spiritual prelates, sente hym to the tower of London there to abide the determination of
the clergie according to the statutes in and for that cace prouided. After whiche tyine the.
xxiij. daie of Septembre, a solempne session was appoincted in the Cathedrall churche of
sainct Paule, and another the. xxv. da of the said moneth in the hal of the Friers prechers
in London, in whiche places thesaid lorde was examined, apposed and fully heard, & in con-
clusion by the archbishop denounced an hereticke and so remitted again to the toure of Lon-
don : Fro whiche place, ether by help of frendes or corrupcion of kepers, he priuely
escaped and cam into Wales, where he remained by the space of thre yeres and more.
AFTER this tyme in a certain vnlawfull assemble was taken sir Robert Acton knight, a
man of greate wit 9c possessions, Ihon Broune Esquire, Ihon Beuerly clerke and a greate
numbre
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
mimbre of other whiche were brought to the kynges presence, and to hym declared the
cause of their commocion and risyng : and accusynga greate nubre of tlieir sort and societie
(_ \vhiche-cofessio because I haue not seen, I leaue at large.) After this folishe acte, so many
pcrsoncs \vere apprehended that all the prisons in and about London wer replenished with'
people. The chief of them whiche wer. xxix. wer condempned by the clergie of heresy,
and attainted of high treason as mouers of warre against their kyng by the temporal lave in
the Gnyld hall the. xii. daie of December, and adjudged for treason to be dra\vcn and
hanged, and for heresy to be consumed with lire gallowes and all: Which iudgemente was
executed in laniuerfolowyng on thesaied Robert Acton and the. xxviij. other.
SOME sale that the occasion of their death was the conueighance of the Lorde Cobham
out of prisone. Other write that it was bothe fbr treason and heresy as the record declareth.
Certain^ affinne that it was for feined causes surmised by the spiritualtie more of displea-
sourthen truth: the Judgement whereof I leaue to men indifferent. For surely all coniec-
tures be not true, nor all writynges are not the Gospell, & therefore because I was nether
a witnes of the iacte, nor present at the deede I ouerpasse that matter and begin another,
IT THE SECONDE YERE.
KYng Henry cotinuatly studiyng for the honor of hymself and aduancement of his The- *
people, called his high courte of parliament the last daie of April in the touire of Leicester y<
In the whiche parliamente many profitable lawes were concluded: and many peticions
moued wer for that tyrne deferred Emongest whiche requestes* one was, ttmt a bill exhi-
bited m the parliamente holden at Westminster in the. xj. yere of kyng Henry the fourth
(whiche by reason that the kyng was then vexed and troubled with ciuill deuision & domes-
ticall dissencion, came to none effect) might now bee well studied, pondered; regarded and
brought to some good conclusion. The effect of whiche supplicacion-was, that the tempo-
lalllandesdeuoutely gcaen, and disordinatly spent by religious and other spiritual I persones^
might suffise to maintain- to the honor of the kyng and defence of the realme, xv.
erles, xv.C. knightes,. vj.M. ii.C. esquires, and. C. almose houses for relief onely of the poore
impotente and nedy persones, and the kyng to haue elerely to his cofers twentie thousande
poundes, with, many other prouisions and valewes of religioushouses whiche I oueipa.sse.
THIS before remembred bill was muche noted and feared emogest the religious sort
whom in effect it muche touched) uisomnche that the fat Abbotes SAvet, the proude Priors
frouned, the poore Friers curssed thesely Nonnes wept, and al together wer nothyng- pleas-
ed nor yet cotent. Now to nndea remedy for a mischief and a tent to stop a -wounde, the
Clergy myndyng rather to-bowe then breake, agreed to offre to the kyng a greate some of nio--
ney to staye this newe moued demaund. The cause of this offre seined to some of the wise-
prelates nether decente nor c.onuenient, for they wellforsawe and f)erfightly kne«e that if
the commos perceiued that thei by reward or offre of money would resist their request &
petiekm, that thei stirred & moued with a fury woold not onely rayle and despise theim as
corruptours of Princes and enemies of the publique wealthe, but would so crye and caH on-
the kyng and histemporall lordes that they were liketo lese bothe worke and oyle, cost and;-
linyng: Wherefore they determined to cast all chaunces whiche mighte serue their purpose,
& in especiall to replenishe the kynges brayne with some pleasante study that he should ne--
ther phantasy nor regard the serious peticion of the importunate commons.
WHERFORE on a daie when the kyng was present in the parliament, Henry Cbicheley
Archebishop of Cautorbury thereto newly preferred, whiche beforetime had been a-Monke
of the Carthusians, a ma whiche had professed vvilfull pouertie in religion, and yet commyng
abrode muche desired honor, & a man muche regardyng Godes law, but;morc louyng liis
his owne lucre. After lowe obeysaunce made to the kyng he said after this maaer in effect.
H-
$0 THE. II. YERE OF
Why I consider pur most entirely beloued and no lesse drad soueraigne lorde and naturall
Prince, the louyng mynd, the daily labor and continuall study whiclie you incessantly im-
- pjore bothc for thaduancetnct of the honor of your realme and also profile of your people:
1 cannot nor ought not, except I would bee noted not onely ingrate to your royall person
bcyng my patrone & preferrer, but also a neglecter of my dutye, a secrete mummer of suche
thynges whiche louche both the inheritance of your croune & the honor of your realme ether
holdc my peace or kcpe silence. For all authors agree that the glory of kynges consistelh
not onely in high bloud and haute progeny, not in habounclant riches and superfluous sub-
staunce, nor in plesant pastyme and ioyous solace: But the very tipe of the magnificence
of a prince rcsteth in populous riche regions, wealthy subiectes and beautiful! citees and tounes,
of the whiche thanked be God, although you be coueniently furnished both within your
realmcs of England & Ireland and principalite of Wales, yet by lineal discet, by progeny
of blud and by very inheritance, not onely the duchy of Normandy and Aquitaine with the
counties of Aniowe and Mayne and the countrei of Gascoynare to you as true and vndubi-
tate heir of the same laufully deuoluted and lineally disc-ended from the high and most noble
prince of famous memory kyng Edward the third your great grandfather, but also the whole
realme of Fraunce with all his prerogatiucs and preheminences, to you as heire to your
great grandfather is of right belongyng and apperteiguyng. In whiche realme, to reherse
what noble persons, what beautifull cities, what fertile, regions, what substancial marchates,
and what plentifull riuers are conteigned and included, I assure you that time should rather
faile then matter shoulde wax skant. The fraudulent Frenchmen to defraude and take away
vour ryght and title to the realme of Fraunce, in the lime of your noble progenitor king Ed-
ward the third, alledged a lawe, vntruly faincd, falcely glosed and Sophistically expounded,
wherof the very wordes are these, In terrain salicam mulieres nesuccedant, which is to say,
e let not women succcde in the land*Salicque. This land Salicque the deceitful glosers name
to be the realme of Fraunce. This lawe the Logical! interpretours assigne to directe the
croune and regalitie of the same region, as who wold say that to that preheminence no woman
were liable, to aspire, nor no heire Female was worthy to inherile. The French writers af-
firm that Pharamond kyng of the Frenche Gaules, first instituted this lawe which neuer was,
should or might be broken. Seenowe howe an euell gloseconfoundeth the text, and a perci-
all interprctour marreth the sentence, for first it is apparantly knowen and by an hudred
writers confirmed that Pharamond whom they alledge to be aucthour of ihis lawe was duke of
Franconia in Germany, and elecled lo be kyng of the Sicambres, whiche callyng them selfes
Frenchmen had gotten parte of the Gaule Celtike betwene the riuers of Marne and Seyn.
This Pharamond disceased in the yere of our Lord. iiii. C. & xxvi. long after whose death,
Charles the great beyng Emperoure and many yeres inakyng war re on the Saxons dyd in
bluddy battaile disperse and confounde the whole puissance of that nacion in the yere of
our Lord viii. C and flue, and broughte theim to the catholique faith and Christian confor-
mitie. Alter which victory certaine souldiers as the Frenche Cronographiers affirm, passed
ouer the water of Sala and there inhabited, betwene the riuers ot Elue and Sala, and wer
commonlv called Sali Frenchemen or Sali Gaules, whiche countrey nowe is the lande of
Mismie. This people had suche displeasure at the vnhonest fashions of the Germain women,
that they made a law that the Females shuld not succede to any inheritance within that land.
NOWE with indifferent eares if you wyll note these two pointes you shall easily perceiue
that the lawe Salicque was only fained and inuented to put your noble progenitours and you
iroivi your lawfull ryght and true inheritaunce. For they saie that Pharamond made the
lawe for the land Salicque, whiche the glose called) Fraunce. Then I demaunde of master
Closer or rather master Doctor commenter, yf I may call a commenter an open Her, whe-
ther Pharamond* whiche died iiii. C. xxi yeres before the Frenchemen possessed the Gaule
Salicque and neuer sawe or knewe it, made a lawe of thatthyng whiche at that tyme was
not his nor inhabited by his people. Beside this, the realme of Fraunce whiche is your pa-
trimony is compact of. Hi. Gaules Belgiquc, Celtique and Aquitain, and no part of Salicque:
then
KYNG HENRY THE. V. g\
then may the gloser expounde aswell thatGaule Belgiqtie is the countrey of Brytain, as to
glose that the lande Salicque is the whole realme and dominion of the croune of Fraunce.
Wonder it is to see how the Frenchmen luggle with this phantastical lawe, folowyng the
crafty hasarders whiche vse a plaie called seest thou me or seest thou me not. For whe
kyng Pepyu whiche was Duke of Brabante by his mother Begga, and master of the palayce
of Fraunce coueted the croune and scepter of the realme, the Frenche nacion not remebryng
this infringible law, deposed Childeryck the. iii. the very heyre male and vndoubted childe
of the line of Pharamond and Clouis kynges of Fraunce by the cousail of Zachary then Bi-
shop of Home, and set vp in trone this Pepyn as nexte heire gcnerall discended of lady
Blithyld doughter to kyug Clothayre the first. Hugh Capet also whiche vsurped the croune
without right or reason on Charles duke of Lorayne the sole heire male of the line and stocke
of Charles the greate, after that he had shamefully murthered and in pitifull prison by the
procurement of the Bishop of Orleauuce destroied the said Charles, to make his title seme
true and aperegood, wherein dede it was bothe euell and vntrue, to blynd the opinions of
the common people and to set a glasse before their eics, cdueighed him selfe as heire to
the lady Lvngard doughter to the kyng Charlemaine sonnc to Lewes the Emperor which was
sonne to Charles the great kyng of Fraunce. Kyng Lewes also the ninth whome the Frenche-
men call Sainct Lewes beyng very heire to the saied vsurper Hugh Capet, coulde neuer be sa-
tisfied in his conscience how he might iustely kepe and possesse the croune & regalitie of the
realme of Frauce tyll he was perswaded and fully instructed that Quene Isabell his graundmo-
ther was lineally discended of Lady Ermengard daughter and heire to the aboue named
Charles duke of Lorayn, by the forcsaid Hugh Capet of life and realme wrongfully depriued:
by the which manage the bludde and line of kyng Charles the great was againe vnited and
restored to the Croune and Scepter" of Fraunce, so that it more clearer than the sonne,
openly appeareth the title of Kyng Pepyn, the claime of Hugh Capet, the possession of
kyng Lewes, ye and of all the French kynges to this day, are deriued, claymed and con-
ueighed from the heire Female and yet they would barre you as though your great graund-
mother had bene no wotna.n nor heire female, but a painted Image or fained shadowe. If
so many examples, if suche copie of presydentes collected out of your owne histories and ga-
thered oute of your owne writers suffice not to confounde your simple Salicque lawe inuented
by false fablers and crafty imaginers of you fablyng Freeh menne, then here what God
saieth in the book of Numeri. When a man dieth without a sonne let the inheritance diseend
to the daughter: If your princes call them selfes most Christian kynges let theim folowe the
lawe of God before the lawe of the Painym Pharamond. Are not all lawes discrepant from
Goddes lawes euel, and to al Christen eares odious and noisome: are Frenche women dyscen-
ded of the blud roial no Christians, and not wortlrye to inhcrite in the realme of Fraunce? Is
the realme of Fraunce more noble then the kyngclome of ludaof whom Christ discended by
a womas? When God sayed to Abraham that in one of his sede al nacions shnld be blessed,
how came Christ of the seede of Abraham but onely by that immaculate Virgin his glorious
mother? Likewise, when the Prophet Michee said, thou tribe of luda art not the leaste of
estimacion emongest the Princes of luda, for oute of the shall come a capitayne whiche
shall rule and direct my people of Israel. Howe discended Christ from the rote of lesse,
and howe was he duke and capitain of the Israelites, and how discended he of the line of
Dauid: But onely by his mother a pure virgin and a marled wife. Beholde, by Goddes lawe,
women shall inherite Behold in Fraunce, Frenchemen haue inherited by the onely line of
the women, and yet Englishmen be prohibited to claime by the heyre Female contrary
to the lawe of God and man. Wherfore regarde well mysoueraigne Lord your iust and true
title to the realme of France, by Goddes lawe and mannes lawe to you lawfully diuoluted as
very heire to Quene Isabell your great graundmother daughter to kyng Philip the faire and
suster and heir to. iii. kynges disceasyng without any issue.- Whiche inheritance of the
woman is declared to be iuste by the Mosaicall lawe and vsed and approued by the Galilean
discent as J haue before declared. Therefore for Goddes sake leese not youre patrimony,
II 2 disherite
5<2 THE. II. YI-UIE OF
-disherite net your lie'ires, dishonour not your sclfe, diminishc not 'your title, which your
.noble progenitors so highly haue cstemed. Wherfore auaunce forth your banner, fight for
your ryghte, conqticre your inheritaunce, spare not swerde blud or fire, your warrc is iuste,
your cause is good, and your claim true: and therfore courageously set forward your warre
against your enemies. And to the entent that we your louyng chapleins and obedient sub-
iectes of the spirituakie would shewe ou>rsclfes willyng and desiryng to aide you for the reco-
uery of your auncient right and true title to the croune of France, we haue in our spirituall
eonuocacion gra-unted to yourhighnes suche a some of money as neuer by no spiritual per-
sons was to any prince before your daies geuen or aduanced, beside our daily praiers and
continual precacions to God and his saintes for prosperus succcsse to ensue in your merciall
exploite and roiail passage. When tire Archebishop had finished his prepared purpose,
Jlanlfe Fa'lc of Westmerland, a man of no lesse grauitie then experience, and of no more
experience than stomack, whichc was then high AV'arden of the marches toward Scotland, and
therfore thinkyng that y! the king shuld passe ouer into Fraunce with his whole puissaunce,
that his power should be to wcake to withstand the strength of Scotland if they shuld inuade
duryng the kyngcs absence. AVherfore he rose vp, & makyng his obcysance to the kyng sayd.
The Oracis SUltELV sir, as my Lord Canterbury hath clerkely declared, the conquest of Fran nee
crip of * -is very honorable, and when it is gotten and obteigned very profitable and pleasant : I3nt
vmtmer. sauyng your graces reformacion, 1 say awl aifirme that to conquere Scotland is more neces-
sary, more aparante easie, and more profitable to this realme then is the gaine of Fraunce,
For althoughe I am not so well learned as my lord Archbishop is, nor haue not preceded to
degre in the Vniuersitie, yet I haue red, and heard great clarckcs say, that strengthe knitte
and combined together is of more force and efficacie then when it is seuered and dispersed.
As for an example, sprinkle a vessel of water and it mouteth not, but cast it out wholy
together and it bothe washeth and norisheth. This notable saiyng before this time hath en-
coraged Emperors, animated kynges and allured princes to conquere realmes to them ad-
jovnyng, to vanquishe nacions to their dominions adiacent, and to subdewe people either neccs •
sary for their purpose, or beyng to them daily enemies or continual! aduersaries. For profe
\vherof, bcholde what was the chefe cause and occasion why rulers and goucrnors so sore
laboured, tliirsted and couetcd to bryng al regions to them adioinyng into one rule or Mo-
narchy? Was it not done to tins entent that the conquerors might haue the only power
& entier gubernacion of all the laudes and people within their climate, and gouerne the in
time of peace and also haue their aide in time of war? AVhiche monarchic was of that ma-
icstie and estimacion in the world, that no other forein prince or exterior potentate ether
had audacitie or was able to altempte any thyng within the territory or region of the monar-
chial pri'ice and adourned kyng- Let the kyngdorne of the assiriens be your example, and
it that suflise not, then loke on the Pcrcians, after on the Grekes and lastly on the Romanies,
uhiche euer desired and coueted more to haue the littel Isle of Scicile, the territory of the
Nnmidians and the mean Citie of the Samnites beyng daiely within their kennyng and smell,
rather then to obtein populous Gaule, plenteous Pannony, or manly Macedony liyng farre
from sight and out of their circle or compasse. This desire scmeth to rise of a great pru-
dent and vigilante policy, for as a prince is of more puissaunce when his countreis ioyne, so
is he of more strength when his power is at hande. And as men lackyng comforte be more
releued by frendeswhiche be presente, then by kinsfolke duellyng in forein cou treys and regions
farre of. So princes haue commonly coueted and euer desired to se and beholde their do-
minions liyng nere about them, rather then to here by reporte from the countreis farre dis-
tant from them. If this hath bene the pollccy of conquerours, thappetite of purchasers
and the study of gouerners, why doth your grace desire Fraunce before Scotland*:, or couet
a countrey farre from your sight, before a realme vnder your nose? Do you not remember
how the hole Isle of Hritain was one entier Monarchi in the time of your noble auncetor
Kyng Brute first kyng and ruler of your famous Empire and glorious region: whiche deuid-
yng his rehue to his thre sonnes gaue to Lothryne his eldest sonne that part of Britain that
your
KYNG HENRY THE. V, 53
your highnes now enioyeth, and to Aibanact his second sonne lie gaue the countrey of Alba-
ny nowe called Scotland, and to Camber his third sonr.c he gaue the countrey of Cambria
nowe called Wales: reseruyng alwaies to him & his heires homage, lege and Veaultie loiull
for the same countreis and dominions. By tliis deuisio, the glory of the monarchic of Bn-
taytie was clerely defaced, by this separacion the strength of the Britishc kynges was sore
diminished, by this dispersion intestine war began, and Ciuil rebellion sprange first within
this region. For while all was vnder one, no nacion durste either once iauade or alternate
warre against the Britons: but when the land was once deuided and the monarchic vndone,
outward enemitie or foreyn hostylilie not halie so muche infested, greued or troubled the
valiaunt Brittons as their owne neighboures discended of one parent, and come of one pro-
geny. For the Albanactes otherwise called the false fraudulet Scottes, and the Cambers
otherwise called the vnstable Welshemen, did not alonly withdrawe their fealtie, denie their
homage, and refuse their allegiance due to the kynges of this realme, bnt also made con-
tinuall warre and destroied their tounes and slewe the people of their neyghboures and Bri-
tons. For whiche cause diuerse of your noble progcnitoures haue not onely made warre and
subdewed the Scottes for the deniyng of their homage and surryng of rebellion, but also
haue deposed their kynges £ princes, and erected and set vp other in their estates and dig-
aiities. Sealer kyng of Scottes, for his rebellion was by Dunwallo iUolnncius your noble
predecessor slayn and extincted. Kyng Arthure also the Glory of the Brittons erected An-
gosile to the scepter of Scotland and receaued of hym homage and fealtie. Yf I shuld re-
hearse how many kynges of Scotland haue done homage to your auncient predecessors, or
reherse howe many Scottishe kynges they haue corrected and punished for their disobedience
and deniyng of homage, or declare what kynges they as superior lordes and high Empe-
roures ouer the vnderkinges of Scotland, haue elected & made rulers, to thetent that all
people might manifestly perceiue that it was more glorious, more honourable and more fa-
mous to a Kyng to make a Kyng then to be a kyng by natural discent, 1 assure you, your
eares would be more wery of hcryng, then my tounge woulde be fatigate with open truth
tellyng. Your noble progenitour kyng Edward the iirste couelyng to be superior and to
surmount in honour, or at the least to be equiuolent in fame with his noble ancestours and
famous progenitors, daily studied and hourely compassed howe to bryng the whole Isle of
Briteygne whiche by Brute was deuided into thre partes into one monarchy and one domi-
nion. After longe studie and greate consultacion had, he subdewed Wales, and tamed the
wylde people and broughte that vnruly parte to his olde home and aunciente degree, whiche
thyng done he likewise inuaded Scotlande and conquered the countreye to the towne of Per-
ciie called Saincte Ilions towne standyng on the rincr of Tay, whiche he walled, diched and for-
teiied, rulyng that part with Englishe lawes, Englishe cnstomes and by Englishe ludges, and
was almoste at a poynte thereof to haue made a pertighte conqueste and a complete Mo-
narchic. But Oh Lorde, hasty deathe whiche maketh an ende of all mortall creatures, so-
deynly berefte hym of his life and toke awaie his spirite, and so all thynges whiche he had
deuised, whiche he had yrnagined and seriously pretended, the small momente of an houre
turned vpside doune and sodainly subuerted. Sith whose deathe your greate Graundfather,
ye and your noble father haue attempted to bryng that runnegate region into his auncient
course and former line, as a thyng both necessary, comieniente and mete' to bee ioyned and
vnited to this realme, and so not only to reuiue the old empire "and famous Monarchye, but
also to vnitc and cobine that vertue and stregtu which from the tymc of Brute was dispersed
and seuered, in one body, in one hed and one corporation. Wherfore, if to your high
wisedome it seemeth not necessary ta kyng this terme necessary for nedefull to eonquere the
realrne of Scotlande asathyngthatnedes muste be doen,yctwiH I not flic from my firstsaiyng,
but proue it necessary (as the logical! paraphrasian and Philosophical interpreters) do by a
distinccion expounde this terme necessary to signitie a thyng conuenient: That the conquest
in Scotlande before the inuadyng of Fraunce is moste expedient, for experience teacheth and
reason agreeth that euery personc entt-dyng a purposed enterprise, or a determinate voyage
1 should
5* THE. II. YERE OF
should not onely prouicle and make preparation for all thynges requisite and nedefuli for his
•Lynxisa purpose or exployte, but also ought vigilantly to forsee with * Lincis iyes, and preuC-t and
toa'loife stucty w'ln the serpentyne pollicie how to aduoyde and retell all thynges whiche might ether
who.e bee an impediment to his progression and settyng forward or occasion of his returne and
«r l°sse °f n's enterprise, least he leuyng behynd hym an euill neighbour, a continuall aduer-
thynges. sary & a secrete enemie, maie assone lese his o\vne propre realme, as conquere and gayne
the dominion of another: wherfore the trite and common adage saith, leaue not the certain
for the vncertain. Wherefore it is necessary that I enucleate and open to you certain arti-
cles conteined in the old league and atnitie betwene the realmes of Fraunce and Scotlande,
wherof the wordes be these.
1. THE warre or iniurie moued or done by the Englishemen to one of the saied nacions, to
be as a commen wrong to bothe.
2. IF the Englishemen make warre on the Frenche nacion, then the Scottes at the costes
and charges of the Frenche kyng, shall minister to theim succours.
3. LIKEWYSE if the Scottes be molested by the English warres, the Frenche nacion ha-
uyng their costes allowed, shall bee to theim ayders and assisters.
4. AND that-noneof bothe the nacions shall ether cotitracte or make peace with the realms
of England without the consente and agrement of the other.
AN13 to thenterrt that this league and amitee should be kept vnuiolate Robert le Bruse
the vsurper of Scotland willed by his testament twoo thynges in especiall to be obserued, the
one neuer to breake the treatie concluded with Fraunce: the second neuer to kepe peace or
promes with Englishmen lenger than the kepyng therof were to theim ether profitable or
necessary. Yet Ihon Mayer and other Scottish writers coloure this cause, saiyng that he
would have no peace concluded with Engiande aboue thre yeres. But whatsoeuer writers
write or talkers saie, they bee to hym moste faithfull executors and haue neuer yet broken his
testament but daily kepe his precept and commaundement. And for the performaunce of this
will and kepyng of this league, none of yourauncetours euer inuaded Fraunce, but incon-
tinent the Scotles troubled and vexed England. None of your progenitors euer passed the
sea in iust quarell against the Frenche nacion, but the Scottishe people in their absence en-
tered your realme spovled your houses slewe your people and toke great praies innumerable,
only to prouokc your auncestors for to returne fro the inuadyng of France. If I should de-
clare to you their comen breaking of leagues, their craftie and subtill dissimulacio, their
false faire promises often swprneand neuer kept, I doubt not but you would ten tymes more
abhorrc their doyng, then I would bee ashamed of the tellyng. Therfore I saie still, and
atiinne it necessary and conuenient to forse, that you leaue no enemies behind at your
backe when you go to conquere aduersaries before your face. Beside this, if you consider
the daily charges, the inconstant chances that maie happen, I thinke, yea and litle doubt
but Scotlande shalbee tamed before Fraunce shalbe framed. For if you will inuade Fraunce,
accompt what number of shippes must transport your armie, recon what charge of ancors,
what a multitude of Cables, and what innumerable thynges apperteigne to a nauie. When
you be there, if your men decay by sickenes or by sworde, if vitaill faile, or if money wax3
skante, if the wynde turne contrary or an hideous tempeste arise, you shall bee destitute of
aide, prouisio and treasure, which in a strange region are the collision & defacyng of an
armie. On the other side if you inuade Scotlande, your men bee at hande, your vitaill is
nere, your aide is euer at your backe, so that in that voyage you shall haue haboundance in
all thynges, and of nothyng you shall haue wante. See what an occasion fortune hath
offered vnto you, is not their kyng your captiue and prisoner? Is not the realme in greate
deuision for the crueltie of the duke of Albany, rather desiring to haue a forain gouernor,
then a natural! tyraunt. Wherfore my counsaill is, firste to inuade Scotlande, and by Gods
grace to conquere and ioyne that region to youre Empire, and to restore the renoumed
• Monarchy of Britayne to her olde estate and preheminence, and so beautified with realmes
and furnished with people, to entree into Fraunce for tlierecoueryng of your righteous title and
i true
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 5$
true inheritaunce, in obscruyng the old auncient prouerbe vsed by our forefathers, whiche
saieth, he that will Fraunce wynne, muste with Scotlailde firste bcginne.
NO qh the Duke of Excester vncle to the kyng, (whiche was well learned, and sent
into Italy by his father entendyng to haue been a prieste) he that will Scotlande win, let
hym with Fraunce first begin. For if you call to remembraunce the coinon saiyng of the wise
and expert Phisicions, whiche bothe write and teache, that if you will heale a malady you
must firste remoue the cause : If you will cure a sore, you muste first take awaie the humor
that fedeth the place. If you will destroy a plante, plucke awaie his sap whiche is his
norisshyng and life. Then if Fraunce be the norissher of Scotlande, if the Frenche pen-
cios be the susteinersof the Scottishe nobilitee, if theeducacion ofScottes in Fraunce be the
cause of practise and pollicie in Scotlande, then plucke away Fraunce and the courage of
the nobles of Scotland shal be sone daunted and appalled: Take awaie Fraunce and the hertes
of the cornen people wil sone decaie and waxe faint: Plucke away France and neuer looke.
that Scotlande will resist or withstande your power. For when the bed is gone, the body
sone falleth, and when the sap fayleth the tree sone withereth. Let men reade the Chroni-
cles and peruse our Englishe Chronographiers, & you shall sone finde that the Scottes haue
seldo of their owne mocion inuaded or vexed Englande, but onely for the obseruyng of the
league in the whiche they bee bounde to Fraunce: For the Scottes.are the shaft and dart of
the Frenchemen to shote and cast at their pleasure against the Englishe nacion. And where
they haue inuaded, as I cannot deny bat they haue dooen, what glory or what profile sue-
ceded of their entreprice, I report me to their peculier histories. Kyng Malcolyn inuaded'
Englande, when kyng Willia the second was makyng warre in Normandy. Dauid le Bruses
also entered Englande, your greate graundfather kyng Edward the third liyng at the-siege of
Caleis. Was not Malcolin slain beside Tinmouth and Kyng Dauid taken beside Dun-ham.'
Let the gouernors of Scotlande, (for the kyng is sure ynough) entre into Englande 6n that
price and se what he shall gayne therby. What notable acte wcr Scottes cuer able to do
out of their owne countree and propre climate ? Or when were they able to coueigh an armie
ouer the sea at their owne costes and expences? Rede their owne histories and you shall
finde fewe or none. Their nature and condicion is to tary at home in idlenes, ready
to defende their countree like brute beasles, thinkyng their rusticall fassion to he high honestie,
and their beggerly linyng to bee a welfare. Beside this, what auncient writer, or autentike
historiographier ether write of them honor or jonce nameth thcim, except sainct Iherom,
whiche saieth that when he was yong, he sawe in Frftttnce certain Scottes of the isle of Bvi-.
tain eate the fleshe of men, and when they came into the woodes ftndyng there greate heardcs
of beastes and flockes of shepe< lefte the beastes and cut off the Inittockcs of the heard men <
and the pappes and brestes of the shepherdes women, extemyng this meate to be the great-
est deinties: And Sabeliicus saieth that Scottes muche delighte and reioyse in liyng. You
may now apparauntly percciue what puissaunce Scotland is of it self, litle able to defende-
and lesse able to inuade like a noune adiectiue that cannot stand without a substantiue. If
France be taken from them, of whom shall they seke aide ? Denmarke will them refuse because
the kyng is your brother in lawe : Portyngall £ Castel will not them regard c,; bothe the kynges '•
beeyng your cosyns germain and auntes sonnes: Italy is to farre: Germany and Hungary-
be with you in league. So that of necessitee they in conclusion destitute of all ayde, depriued.
of all succoure, bereued of all frendship (if Fraunce be coquered) must without warre or
dent of sworde come vnder your subiection and due obeysance. And yet I would not in
this your conquest, France should bee so muche mynded, that Scotlande should be forgotten, >'
nor that your entier -.power should be sent into Fraunce and no defence left against the imia-
sions of Scotlande. = For of that might ensue this mischief, that if your whole power wcr van-
quisshed in France, the Scottes beyng elated by the victory of their frendes might do more,
(lispleasure.to your realme in one ycre then you should recouer again in fine. But sithe God
liathsent you people, riches, municios of warre and all thynges necessary ether to inuade bothe,
or to defende the one and penetrate the other. Passe the sea your self with an armie royall,
and
•$6 THE. II. YFRE OF
and leue my lorde ot Westmerlande and other graue capitaines of the Northe with a con*
uenient nombre to Defend the Marches if the subtill Scottes encouraged by the Frenchmen
will any thyng attept duryng your voyage and absence. And this is to be remebred, if you
get Scotlande you hauea countree baraynealmoste of alt-pleasure and goodnes, you gay no
people sauage, waueryng and inconstant, of riches you shall haue litle and of pouertie muchc:
But if you get Fraunce, you shall haue a countree fertile, pleasant and plentiful!, you shall
haue people, Ciuill, witty and of good ordre. You shall haue richc citees, beautiful touncs
innumerable Castles, xxiiij. puyssaunt Duchies, Ixxx. and odde populous Countrecs, and an
hud red and thre famous bisshoprickes, a. M. and more fat Monastaries, and parishe
Churches (as the Frenche writers affirme) x. C. thousande and mo. This conquest is ho-
norable, this gavne is proffitable, this Journey is plesaunte, and therfore nether to be left nor
forslewed. Vitaill you shall haue sufficient from Flaunders, aide of men you maie haue daily
out of England, or els to leaue a competentecrewe in the Marches of Caleis to refreshe your
armie and to furnishe still your numbre. Although the cost in transportyng your me be
greate, yet your gayne shal be greater, and therfore accordyng to the trite adage, he must&
liberally spende that will plentefully gayne. And because my lorde of Westmerlfule hath
alleged that the Romaines desired the dominion of suche as were viider flight of their owne
Egle, or whose possesions were a mote to their eye, as the Numidians & other whiche he
hath wisely rehersed. Beholde the condicions of the counsailers and the desire of the mo*
uers, what persones were they whiche cotieted their poore neighbors rather then riche fo-
reines? Men effeminate, more mete for a Carpet then a Campe, men of a weake stomacke
desiryng rather to walke in a pleasant gardein then passe the sees in a tempesteous storme,
what should I saie? Menne that would haue somewhat and yet take litell payne, memie
that coueted thynges nothyng honourable nor yet greatly profitable. But I remember that
the noble Cato the Censor which when it was alledged in the Senate at Rome that Affrike--
was farre of, and the sea brode, and the iournie perillous, caused certain newe figgrs to
bee brought into the Senate, whiche grewe iu the territory of Carihage, and dcruaunded of
the Senators howe they liked the Figges? Some saied they were newe some said they were
swete and some said they were pleasant Oh quod Cato, if they be newe gathered, the is
not the region far of where they grewe (skant thre daies sailyng) and if it be of no longer
distance then so nere to vs be oure enemies. If the figges be swete, then is the soile delicious
and fertile. If the fygges be pleasante, then is the coutrey profitable. If you gaine the Sci-
cilians, you shall be riche men in corne. If you get the Samnites you shall haue plenty of oyle.
If you vanquishe the Numidians, you shall haue copie of beastes: but subdewe Carthage and
conquere A-ffricke, you shall haue not onely Conic Oyle and beastes, but gold, purple, preci-
ous stones, Oliphantes and all thynges bothe necessary and pleasant. Therfore my councell is
rather to seke riches bcyng farre distant then pouertie liyng at hand, for paine is -forgotten
euer where gaine foloweth. This noble saiyng of sage Calo so encouraged and inflamed the
haut hertes and lusty courages of the manly Romains, that they neuer desisted to persecute the
people of Affricke tyll Carthage was vtteriy destroyed and the whole countrey subdewed and
brought vnder the Romain Empire. lulius Ceasaralso desired rather to conquere the Brit-
tons deuided from the continent, ye and inhabityng almost in thende of the worlde, rather then
to gayne the Pannonians adioynyng to Italy, saiyng, breke the stroger and the weaker will
bowe : Subdue the riche and the pore wil yeld be lord of the lordes and the vassales must nedes
be subiect, vanquish the Frenchemen and the Scottes be tamed. This counsaill of Cato, and
this saiyng of Cesar maketh me bothe to speke and thynke that if you get Fraunce, ye get two,
and if you get Scotland you get but one. When the duke had said and sat doune, his opinion
was muche noted and well digested with the kyng, but in especiall with his three brethren and
diucrse other lordes beyng young and lusty, desirous to win honor and profile in the realme
of Fraunce, ensuyng the couragious actesof their noble progenitors, whiche gat in that region
bothe honor and renoune. So that now all men cried warre, warre, Fraunce, Fraunce, and
the bill put into the parliament for desoluyng of religious houses was clerely forgotten and
buried
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
burred, and nothyng thoughte on but onely the recouering of Fraunce accordyng to the
title by the Archbishoppe declared and set furth. And so vpon this poynct after a fewe
Actes for the publicke wealth of the realme condiscended and agreed, the parliamet was
proroged to Westminster.
THE kyng like a wise prince and pollitique gouernor, entendyng to obserue the auncient
ordres of famous kynges and renoumed potentates vsed aswel emong Paynimes as Christians,
whiche is, not to inuade another mannes territory without open war and the cause of the
same to hym published and declared, dispatched into Frauce his vncle the duke of Excester
and the erle of Dorcet, the lorde Grey admirall of Englande, the Archbishop of Deuelin, the
bishop of Norwiche with, v hundred horsse, whiche were lodged in the Temple housin Paris,
kepyng suche triumphante chere in their lodgyng, and such a solempne estate in ridyng
through the citee, that the Parisians & all the Frenche men had no small meruell at their ho-
norable fassions and lordly behaueours. The French kyng receiued them very honorably,
and sumpteously banquetted theim, shewing to theim goodly iustes and marciall pastymes, by
the space of three daies together, in the whiche iustes the kyng hymself to shew his courage
and actiuitee to the Englishemen, manfully brake speres and lustely turneyed.
WHEN this great triumph and marciall disport was finished, the Englishe Ambassadors
accordyng to their commission, required of the Frenche kyng to deliuer to the kyng of Eng-
liid the realme and croune of Fraunce with the entier Duchies of Aquitain, Normandy and
Aniowe, with the countrees of Poytieu and Mayne and.diuerse other requestes, offryng that
if the Frenche kyng would without warre or effusion of Christen bloud rendre to the kyng
their Master his uery righte and lawfull inheritaunce, that he would be content to take in ma-
nage the lady Katheryn doughter to the Frenche kyng & to endewe her with all the duchie
and countrees before rehersed. And if he entended not so to do, then the kyng of Eng-
lande did expresse and signifie to hym that with the ayd of God and help of his people he
would recouer hisright and inheritaunce wrongfully with holden with mortall warre and dent
of sworde. The Frenchemen were much abasshed at these demaundes thinkyng theim very
vnreasonablc and farre excessiue, and yet not willyng to make any determinate aunswer till
they had farther brethed in so weighty a cause, praied thenglishe Ambassadors to saie to the
kyng their master that thei now hauyng no opportunitee to coclude in so hie a matter would
ahortly send Ambassadors into England whiche should certefy £ declare to the kyng their
whole mynde, purpose and aunswer.
THE Englishe Ambassadors nothyng content with this doyng departed into Englande mak- •
yng relacion of euery thyng that was said or done. Here I ouerpasse howe some writers
saie that the Dolphyn thinkyag kyng Henry to be geuen still to such plaies and light
folies as he exercised & vsed before the tyme that he was exalted to the rroune sent to hym
a tunne of tennis balles to plaie with, as who said that he could better skil of tennis then of
warre, and was more expert in light games then marciall pollicy. Whether he wer moued
with this vnwise presente, or espiyng that the Frenchemen dalied and vaynely delayed his
purpose and demaund, was moued and pricked forward I cannot iudge, but sure it is that
after the returne of his Ambassadors, he beeyng of a haute courage and bold stomacke,
liuyng now in the pleasantest tyme of his age, muche desiryng to enlarge and dilate his Em-
pire and dominion, determined fully to make warre in Fraunce, coceiuyng a good trust and
a perfight hope in this poyncte whiche he had before experimented, whiche is, that victory
for the moste part foloweth wher right leadeth, auaunced forward by Justice and sette furth
by equitie. And because many Frenchemen wer promoted to Ecclesiastical dignitees, some
to benefices, some to Abbeis and priores within his realme and sent daily innumerable
somes of money into Fraunce for the relefe and aide of their naturall countremen and li- •
neall kynsmen, he therfore for the publique wealth of his realme and subiectes, ordeigned
that no straunger here after should bee promoted to any spirituall dignitee or degree within
his realme without his especiall licence and royall concent, and that all they that should so -
be admitted, should find sufficient suretie not to disclose $ secretes of this realme to any fo- .
I rain
58 THE. II. YERE OF
rain Or strauge person, nor also to minister to them any aide or succor with money or by any
other ineane. Beside this he assembled a great puissance & gathered a greate hoste through
all his dominions, and for the more furniture of his nauie, he sent into Holand, Zeland and
Frizeland to conduct and hire shippes for the transportyng and conueighing ouer his men
and municions of warre, and finally prouided for armure, vitaile, money, artillary, carraiges,
tentes and other thinges necessary for so hie an enterprise: Whiche prouisions wer sone
blowen into Frauce & quickly knowen in Paris. Wherefore the Dolphin who had taken
on hym the gouernance of the realme, because his father was fallen again into his olde infir-
rnitie, sent for the dukes of Berry and Alaunson and all the counseil of Fraunce, to coclude
what should be done in so great a matter and so weightie a cause. After long cosultacion,
it was determined to assemble people through the whole realme of Fraunce, to resist & re-
pulse the kyng of Englande and his puissaunce whensoeuer he would arriue or set foote in
Fraunce, and also to fortifie their tounes & stuffc them with garrisons and men of warre,
and farther by taxes £ subsedies to leuy asmuche money as by wit or pollicie could be de-
uised or imagined. Moreouer to staie the king of England at home, it was polletiquely
deuised to sende to him a solempne Ambassade to make to him some offers accordyngto the
demaundes before rehersed. The charge of this Ambassade was comitted to the erle of
Vandosrne, to Master Wylliam Bouratier Archebishop of Bourgues and to Master Pe-
ter Fremel bishoppe of Lysieux and to the lorde of Yury and Braquemont and to Maister
Gaultier Cole the kynges secretory and diuerse other. These ambassadours accompanied
with. CCC. and fifty horses passed the sea at Caleys and laded at Douer, before whose ar-
riuall the kyng was departed from Wyndsor to Winchester, entendyng to haue gone to
Hampton and to haue viewed his nauie, but hearyng of the Ambassadours approachyng,
taried stil at Wynchester, where the sayd Frenche lordes shewed themselues very honorably
before the kyng and the nobilitie. And in the bishoppes hal before the kyng, sittyng in his
throne imperial & hislordes spiritual and temporal & a great multitude of the comons there
for that entent assebled, At a tyme prefixed, the Archebishop of Bourgesse made an elo-
quent and a long Oracion, dissuadyng warre, and praisyng peace, offering to the kyng of
Englad a great some of money with diuerse base & pore countries with the Lady Katheria
in marriage, so that he would dissolue his armie & distnisse his souldiors whiche he had
gathered and made ready.
When this Oracion was ended, the kyng caused the Ambassadors to be highly feasted, &
set them at his owne table. And at a daie assigned in the foresayd hall, the Archebishoppe of
Cauntorbury made to their Oracion a notable answere: theffecte wherof was, that if the
Frenche kyng would notgeue with his daughter in manage, the duchies of Acquitain, Nor-
mandy, Aniowe, & all other seignories & dominions somtime apperteinyng to the noble pro-
genitors of the kyng of Englad, he would in no wise retire his armie nor breake* his iorney
but would with all diligence entre into the realme of Frauce & destroy the people, depopu-
. late the coutry & subuertlhe tounes, with sword blud & fyre, & neuer cease till he had_re-
eouered his auncient right & lawful patrimony. The kyng auowed the archbishops saiyng,
& in the word of a prince promised to performe it to the vttermost. The bishop of Bourgesse
beyng inflamed with anger that his purpose toke none effect, desiryng licence & pardo of the
king that he might speake: which once attained he verye rashly and vnreueretly sayd.
Thynkest thou to put doune and destroy wrongfully the most cristen kyng, our most re-
doubted souerain lord and most excellentest prince of all christianitie of blud and prehemi-
nece. Oh kyng, sauyng thine honour, thinkest thou that he hathe offered or caused to be
offered to the landes, goodes or other possessions with his owne daughter for feare of the or
thy Englishe nacion, or thy friendes or well willers or fautours. No no ? but of truthe he
moued with pitie, as a louer of peace, to the entent that innocent blud should not bee dis-
persed abrode, and that Christian pesple shoulde not bee afflicted with battail and destroied
with mortall warre, hathe made to the this reasonable offers and this Godly mocion, puttyng
his hole affiance ia God most puissant accordyng to right and reason, trustyng in his quarel
to
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 59
(o be ayded and supported by his beneuolente subiectes and fauourable well willers. And
sith we be subiectes and seruauntes, we require the to cause vs safely and surely without
dammage to be conducted out of thy reahne and dominions & thatthou wilt write thyne an-
swere wholy as thou hast geuen it, vnder thy scale and signe manuell.
,THE Kyng of Englande nothyng vexed nor yet moued with the presumtuous saiynges and
proude bragges of the vnnurtered and unmanerly byshop, but well remebryng kyng Salo-
mon in the. xxiiii. of his prouerbes, whiche saithe, that with discretion warres muate be ta-
ken in hand, £ where many can geue councell, there is victory, coldly and soberly aun-
swered the bishop saiyng: My lorde I littel esteme your Frenche bragges, and lesse set by
your power & strength, I know perfightly my right to your region, and excepte you will
deny the apparant truthe so do you, and if you neither do nor will knowe yet God and the
worlde knoweth it. The powre of your Mayster you see daily, but my puissance you hane
not yet tasted, If your master haue louing frendes and faithful! subiectes, Iain I thanke
God not disgarnished nor vnprouided of the same: But this I say vnlo you, that before one
yere passe I trust to make the highest croune of your countrey stoupe and the proudest
Miter to kncele clowne : and say this to the vsurpcr your Master that I within three
monethes wyll enter into France not as into his land, but as into mine ov.ne true and law-
full patrimonye entendyng to conquere it, not with braggyng worries, flatteryng oracions
or coloured persuasions, but with puissaunce of men and dent of sworde by the aide of
God in whome is my whole trust and confidence. And as concernyng mine answere to be
written, subscribed and sealed, I assure you that I would not speake that sentence the
which I would not write and subscribe, nor subscribe that line to the whiche I would refuse
to put my scale. Therefore your saue conducte shall be to you deliuered with mine an-
swere, and then you may depart surely and safely I warrant you into your countrey,
where I truste soner to visite you then you shall haue cause to salute or bid me welcome.
With this answere the Ambassadours sore dismaied, but more displeased (although they
were highly entertained & liberally rewarded, departed into their countrye, relatyng to the
Dolphyn and the kynges councehvhat they had done duryngthc tyme of their Ambassade.
After thefrenche Ambassadours were departed, the kyng as I sayd before hauinga great
foresight and disposyng all thynges in an ordre forgettyng not the old pranckes and sodeyn
trickes of the variable Scottishe nacion, appoincted the earle of Westmerlande, the lorde
Scrope, the Baron of Greystncke and sir Robert Vrmfreuile with diuers other hardye par-
sonages & valiant capitayncs to kepe the frontiers and Marches adioynyng to Scotland,
whiche sir Robert Vmi'reuile on the day of Mari Magdalene entrecl with the Scottes at the
toune of Gederyng, hauyngin his company only. CCCC. Englishemen, where he after long
conflict and doubtful battaileslcwe of his enemies. Ix. and odde, and toke captiucs. CC(\
Ix. and discomfited and put to flight a thousand and moo, whom he followed in chase aboue.
xii. miles, and so laded with praies and prisoners reculed agayne not vnhurt to the castle
of Rokesbroughe, of the whiche at that tyme he was chief ca pi tayne and gouernour.
When the kyng had ordered all thynges for the tuicion and sauegarcle of his realme and
people, he leauyng behynd him for gouernor of the realme, the Queue his mother inlawe,
departed to the toune of Southampton, entending there to take ship, and so to transfrete
into Fraunce. And to thentent he would steale on the Frenche kyng before he were ware
of him, he dispatched Antelop his pursuiuant at Armes with letters, the which the Frenche
cronographers declare to be these.
TO the right honorable prince Charles our cissyn of Fraunce & aduersary, Henry by the
grace of God kyng of England & of Fraunce. &c. To deliuer to euery man his owne, is a
woorkeof inspiracionanda dccde of sage councel, for right noble prince our cosyn and ad-
uersary, sometymes the noble realmes of England & of Fraunce uere vnited, which nowe,
be seperated and deuided, and as then they were acccustomed to be exalted through the
vniuersal worlde by their glorious victories, and it was to them a notable vertue to decore
and beautifye the house of God, to the whiche apperteincd holynes, and to set a concorde
12 in
<SO< THE. III. YERE OF
in Christes religion. And by their agreable warres they brought fortunately the publike ene-
mies to their subjection : but alas this fraternal faith is peruerted to fraternal occasion as
Lot persecuted Abrahii by humayne impulsion, but nowe the glory of fraternal loue is deade,
and the discent of auncient humaine cddicion is departed, and mother malice and Ire are
resuscitate from death to life, but we call to wytnes the souereigne iudge in coscience, whiche
will not bow either for praier or for giites, that we to our power for pure loue haue procea-
ded by all mea ties to peace & amite. And sith we haue red in writyng and by coucel haue
learned the iust title of our inheritaunce from vs deteined in prejudice of oure auncient
linage, we be not of so small a courage but that we wyll fight to death to obteyne right and
iustice: but by the authorise written in the boke of Deuteronomy, all mea are taught whiche
come to besiege or assaulte any cytie or fortresse, fyrst to offre peace. And albeit that vio-
lence the rauisher of iustice haue take away of log time the noblenesof our croune and oure
iuste inheritaunce, yet we by charitie haue done what we might to recouer and bry.ng our
old inheritaunce to the first degree and auncient estate, and therefore for faute of iustice, we
may returne to armes. Wherfore, that our glorye may be wytnes of our conscience nowe
and also by personal request, in the beginning of our iorney to the whiche we are toward
for faute of iustice, \ve exhort you in the bowellesof our sauiour lesu Christ, whose euan-
gelical doctrine wiFleth that you ought to render to all men that which you ought to do, and
so to do to vs is the will of God oure souereigne lorde and creator. And to thentent that
destruccion of Christen people should be exchewed whiche are the images of God, we haue
demaunded our right and restitucion of the same from vs wrongfully withholden and
deteined, or at the least of snche thynges whiche we haue so often times by our Ambassa-
dors and messengers required & instantly desyred, wherwuh we haue offered to be pleased,
satisfied and cotented for the onely reuerence of almightie God & for the v-tilitie of a vni-
uersall peace whiche we thought should haue ensued.. And therfore we for our part because
of a manage to be had and cocluded betwene vs, wer determined to forsake & refuse the
fiftie thousand crounes to vs last promised and profered, preferryng peace before riches, &
chosyng rather our rightful patrimony to vs by our noble progenitors lawfully deuoluted*
and discended with oure eossyn your 'daughter the fcayre lady Katherin, rather then for trea-
sure and desire of money the multiplier of uiMj,uitie, shamefully to dishenerite our selfe and-
the croune of oure reahne whiche God forbid, Youen vnder oure priuy scale at o;ir Castel.
of Hampton on the sea side, the. v. day of August.
WHEN the letter was presented to the French kyng & by hi* councell well ouerlokedj,
he made answere to the officers of armes that he had well perceiued tlie content of the let*
lers, wherevpon he would tak« aduice and prouide for the same in tyme and plaee conue*
riieiu, licensing the messenger to depart at his pleasure..
U THE THIRD YERE..
Th^e"k- THIS noble prinee hauyng his nauy furnished, and all thynges necessary for suche a royal
voyage, perc-eiuyng his treshe capitames to complain that tiiey had lost so many monethes-
of theyere in the whiche they might haue done diueise haute enterpriwes in the lades of their
enemies, and that nothyng was to the more odious than prolongyng lingering of tyme
determined with all diligence to cause his souldiors to entr.e his shippes and so to depart.-
. SE the chaunce, the night before the day of departure appoincted, he was credibly in*
formed that Richarde earle of Cambridge brother to Edward duke of Yorke and- Henry
torde Scrope & syr Thomas Gray knight had cop.is.sed ins death and final! distinction: wher-
fore he caused them to be apprehended lamentyng sore his chaunce tliat he should be com*
pelled to loose such personages by whose valiantne;-, and puissaunce he should be more dread-
ful and feareful to his foes & enemies. When these prisoners were examined, they not
enely confessed the cospirary, but ako declared that for a great some of mony which they
hadreceiued of the Frenehe k)ng> they iuteded either to deLuer the kynsj-aliue into-the
J O *•*
hande
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 61
feandcs of his enemies, or els to murthcr him before that he should arriue in the duchy of
Norniady. When kvng Henry hard al thynges opened whiche lie sore desired, he caused
all hie nobilitie to asscble before his maiestie royal, before whom he caused to be
brought the thre great oflendors and to them sayd: If you haue conspired the deth
and destruction of me whiche am the head of the realme and gouernour of the people, with-
out doubt I must of nccessitie ihinke that you likewyse haue compassed the confusion of all
that be here witli me and also the final destruction of your natiue countrey and natural re-
gion. And although some priuate Scorpion in your heartes, or some wild worms in your
heades hath caused you to conspire my d -ath and comsion, yet you shuld haue spared that
deuelish enterprice as long as I was with miiie army whiche cannot cotinue without a capi-
taine, nor be directed without a guide, nor yet with the destruction of your owne blond
and hacion you should haue pleased a foreign enemy and an a. indent adversary. Wher-
fore seyng that you haue enterpnsed so greate a misehiete, so abhominabie a fact, to
thentent that your fautors beyng in the armye may abhorre so detestable an otfetice by the pu-
nishemcnt of you, ha^tyou to receiue the p^iyne that for your demerites yon haue deserued,
&. that punishment that by thelawe for your otfences is prouided.
WHEN these noble men were executed, the kyng sayd to his lordes, se you not the
mad imagination of men whiche persecute me that dayely studye, and hourly labour, to
my great irauaile and vnqo etnes for the aduancement of the publique wea'th of this
rt-.ilme andregion^ and for that cause I spare no payne nor refu-e no tytne to ilientent to do
food to all men and to hurt no man, and thus to do is my dutie & to tiiis as I thinke am
b >rne. I pray to God that there be none among you that be infected with so much vnA
truth that had leuer se me destro;ed and brought to co.. fusion, rather then to se his cou-rey
flurishe encreased with honor and empire. 1 assure you that I coceiue no suciie opinion in
any of you, but put in you both trust & confidence and if I may haue your helpe to
beautify my reahne and to recouer againe the olde honor of myne auncestours by sub-
duyng the Frenche nacion, I for my self wyll forget all peril and p tine and he your
guide lodesrnan and conductor. And if you drawe backe and wyll not moue fonvarde,
beleue me, God wyll so dispose, thai hctcatter jcu shalbe deceiued and sore icpenfhad I
wyst. When- the kyng had finished his saiyng, all the noble men kneled'uounc £ proursed
faithfully to serue him and duely to obey him, and rather to dye then tosufter him to ltd!
into the Tiandes of his enemies.
THIS done, the kyng thought surely in his conceipte all sedicion-to be drouned' & vtter-
ly extincte. But if he had cast his eye to the tyre that was newly kindled, he should haue
surely sene an horrible flame incesed against the walles of Ins o>'iie house and family, by
the which in conclusion his line and stocke was cleane destroyed and consumed to ashes,
whiche tyre at that verye tyme paraduenture might haue bene quenched and put out. For
diuerse write that Richard earle of Cambridge did not conspire with the lorde Scrope and
sir Thomas Graye to murther kyng Henry to please the- Frenche Kyng withal, but onely
to thentent to exalte to the croune his brotherinlawe Rdmond earle of Marche as heyre to
duke Lyouel. After whose death consideryng that the earle of Marche for diuerse secrete
impediments was not liable to haue generacion, he was sure that the croune should come
to him by his wife, or to his children. And thevtbie it is to be thought that he rather cofess-
ed him selfe for nede of money to be corrupted by the Free he kyng, then he would declare
his inwarde mynd & open his very entent. For surely he s.iwe that if his purpose were es-
pied, the earle of March should haut; dronken of the same cup that he did, and what should
haue come to his owne children he muciie doubted. And theifore beyng destitute of com-
fort and in di-payre of life, to saue ins children he fayu d that tale, de^iryng rather to saue
his succession then him selfe, winch lie did in dede For Richard duke of Yoike his sonne
not priuely but openly claimed the croine, and Kdward fiis sonne bu'.h claimed & gained it
as hereafter you shall heare, which tiiyng at thibt;ni'.' if kyug Henry had foresene I doubt
whether either euer that line should haue euiier claimed tiie gariaiide or gained the game.
3 WHEN.
62 THE. III. YERE OF
WHEN the wynde was prosperous and pleasaunt for the nauye to set forward, they
waicd vp the Ankers and hoysed vp their sailes and set forward with. xv. C. shippes on the
vigile of the Assumpcion of our Lady and toke land at Caux, comonly called Kyd Caux
(where the riuei'of Seine runneth into the sea) without resistencc or bludsheddyng. The
kyng was lodged on the shore in a small priory with the dukes of Clarece and Gloucester his
bretherne: the duke of Excetter and Yorke, the carles, Marshal, Oxforde, Suffolke, War-
wicke and other lordes were lodged not farre fro him. The next day after, he marched
towarde the toune of Ilarflewe standing on the riuer of Seyne betwene two hilles and
besieged it on euery parte. The capitaine of the toune was the lorde Escouteuile with the
lorde Blaynuile of Hacqueuile, the lordes of Harmanuile of Galarde Boyes, of Clere de
Becton, ofAdsandies, of Brian, of Gaucort, of Lisleadarn and many other.
THE Frenche kyng beyng aducrtised of the kynges arriuall, sente in all the hast the
lorde Pelabreche constable of Fraunce and the lorde Bonciqualt Marshall of Fraiice, the
Seneschal ofllenaude, the lorde Ligny and diuerse otlier capitaines, whiclie fortified tonnes
with men vitaile and artillary on all the sea coaste. And heryng that the kyng of England
had besieged Harflew at his first landyng, carne to the castle of Cawdebec beyng not farre
from Harflewe, to thentent to succour their frendes which wer besieged if thei might by any
pollicy or inuencion, and if not, then they imagined how to sleye and hurte the Englishe-
iTien when they went into the countree on foragvng for bcastcs and vitaill and so trappe and
dcstroye them, for thei costrued with themsclfes that their vitaile would sone faile because of
the ay re of the sea and smell of the water. But they were deceiued, for notwithstandyng
the prouision and pollicy of the Frenchemen, the Englishmen forrayed the countree, spoyl-
ed the villages and brought many a riche praie to the Campe before Ilarflewe. Thenglish-
men daily ceassed no!: to assaile the toune, the duke of Gloucester to who the ordre of the
assaulte was comitted, made thre mynes vnder the ground & approched the walles with
ordiuaunce and engyues, and would not sutfre theim within to reste at any tyme. The
kyng liyng on the hill side with his battail did not onely kepe the Frenchmen from succoryng
of the toune, but also toke a\vaie from the tounes men all the hope and trust of their succor,
aide and relief, and also al the gonnepouder that was sent by the Frenche kyng to them
that wer beseged was taken by thenglishmen. The capitaines of the Freeh men within the
toune perceitied that they wer not able to resist the continuall inuasions and hourelyassaultes
of the fierce Englishemenne, and knowyng that their walles were vnder my ned and shortely
like to fal, & feryng tliat might happe of the chance if thei should fortune to be ouercome
and take by force, desired of the kyng of England only truce for thre daies, promisyng
that if they were not reskewed within thesame tyme, then thei to yeld themselfes and the
toune their hues only saued. And to performe this, they deliuered into the kynges pos-
session, xxx. of the beste capitaines and Marchauntes of the toune. The kyng of Englande
accepted this oft're, lest he entendyng greater exploites might lese his tyme in suche small
matters. When this composicion was agreed, the lorde Hacqueuile was sent to the French
kyng to declare the necessite of the toune and the shorte tyme of the truce. To who the
dolphin aunswered that the kynges power was not yet assembled in suche a nombre as was
conuenient to raise so greate a siege. When the aunswer was reported to the capitaines,
they seyng no hope nor similitude of aide and comfort to them commyng, after the third
daie rendered to the kyng of Englacl the toune, beyng the. xxxvij. daie after that it was
besieged, whiche was the daie of sainct Mawrice, to the greate abashement of all Nor-
mandy, for it was the soueraigne porte of al that countree. The souicliours wer
rauDSOined and the toune was sacked to the greate gayne of the Englishemen. The
kyng of Englande ordeignod capitain of the toune of Harflew his vncle Thomas
duke of Exccsler whiche established his leuetenaunt there Ihon Fastolfte with. xv. C. inenl
and. xxxv. knightes, whereof the Baron of Carew & sir Hugh Lutterell were two coun-'
saillcrs. And because diuerse of his nobles liyng Harflew were sicke of the flixe and many
wer ded, emongest who therle of Stafford, the bishop of Norwich, the lordes Molins and
1 Burnell
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 63
Burnell wer foure beside other. The kyng licensed the duke of Clarence his brother, Ihon
erle Marshall and Ihon erle of Arundel beyng infected \vith tliat desease to returne into
Englande.
KYNG Henry not a litle reioysyng of his good lucke and fortunate successe in the
begin nyng of his pretensed conquest, determined withal diligence to set forward in perform-
yng his intended purpose and warrely enterprise, but because Wynter approched faster and
more furiously then before that tyme had been accustomed, he was sore troubled and vexed.
For the whiche cause he called together al the Cheuetaines and men of pollicy in his annie
to consult vpo the procedyng forward and to be sure of waie and redy passage. After long
debatyng and muche reasonyng, it was as a thyng bothe necessary and conueniente and fully
agreed and determined to set forwarde withall diligence before the dedde tyme of Winter
approched, toward the toune of Caleis. And because their goyng forward should be called
of slaunderous tongues a runnyngorfliyng awaie, it was decreed that the whole armie should
passe the next waie by lande through the middest of their enemies, and yet that ionrney
was iudged perilous by reason that the numbre was muche minished by the flyxe and other
feuers, which sore vexed and brought to death aboue. xv. C. persones, whiche was the very
cause that the returne was soner concluded and appoincted : but before his departyng he
entered into the toune of Harflew and went on foote to the churcheof sainct Martynes and
there offered. And all the men of warr which had not paied their raunsome, he sware
them on the holy Euangelistes to yeld themselfes prisoners at Caleis by the feast of S. Mar-
tyn in Nouember nexte, diuerse of the burgesses he highly raunsomed, and a greate part
of the women and children he expelled the toune, geuyng to euery poore creature flue
sowse. The priestes had licence to depart leuyng behinde them their substaunce. The
goodes in the toune wer innumerable whiche wer al praie to the Englishemen, whiche sent
the best into Englande as a remembraunce of good lucke. There were twoo strong toures
standyng on the hauen side, whiche lokyng for aid did not yelde ten daies after the toune
was rendered.
WHEN the kyng had repaired the walles, fortefied the bulwarkes refresshed the ram-
piers and furnished the toune with vitail and artillary, he remoued from Harflew toward
Pountoyse, entendyng to pas the riuer of Some with his armie before the bridges were ether
withdrawen or broken. The Frenche kyng hearyng that the toune of Harflewe was gotten
and that the kyng of Englande was marchyng forwarde into the bowelles of the realme, sente
out proclamacions and assembled people in euery quarter, comittyng the whole charge of
his armie to his sonne the Dolphin & the duke of Aquitayn, whiche incontinent caused the
brydges to be broken and all the passages to be defended, beside that they caused all come
and other vitaill to be destroied in all places where they coniectured that-thenglishmen would:
repaire or passe through, to thentent that they might ether kepe the in a place certain with-
out any passage or departure, and so to destroye them at their pleasures, or els to kepe
theim in a straite without vitailes or comfort, and so by famyne ether cause them to dye
or yelde.
THE kyng of Englande afflicted with all these incomoditees at one tyme was nether dis-
maied nor discoraged, but keping furth his iorney approched to the riuer of Some, where
he perceiued that all the bridges wer by his enemies broken and vnframed: wherfore he came
to the passage called Blanchetaque where kyng Edwardes greate graundfather passed the
riuer of Some before the battaill of Cressy. But the passage was so kepte that he could
not passe without great daunger, consideryng that his enemies wer at his backe & before
his face. Wherfore he passed forward to Arannes, burnyng villages & takyng greate booties-
and euery daie he sent his light horsemen abrode to spye and seke what perilles ther wer at
hand, what embushments ther wer laid on the one side or thother, & to find out where he
might most sanely pas the riuer. The espialles returned and declared for a truth that the*
coutree swarmed with men of warre, wherof he beyng aduertised, set furth in good ordre,,
kepyng still his waie forwarde and so ordred his armie and placed his cariage, that hauyng:
his-
6+ THE. III. YERE OF
his enemie* on both side* of him, he passed so terribly that his enemies wer afraid ancc te
offre hym battaill, and yet the lorde Delabreth Constable of Fraunce, the Marshall Bonce-
qualt, the erleof Vandosme greate Master of Fraunce and the lorde Dampier Admirall of
Fraunce, the duke of Alanson and the erle of Richemonde vvithall the puyssance of the
Dolphin laie at Abbeuile and durste not once touche his battailes, but euer kepte the pas-
sages and coasted alofe like a hauke that liketh not her praie. The kyng of Englande still
kept on his iourney till he came to the bridge of saincte Maxence, where he founde aboue
xxx. M. Frenchemen and there pitched his felde, lokyng surely to be set on and fought
withal. Wherfore to encorage his capitaines the more, he dubbed certain of his hardy &
valeant gentlemen knightes, as Ih5 lord Ferreis of Groby, Reignold of Greistocke, Piers
Tempest, Christopher Morisby, Thomas Pikering, Willifi Huddleston, Ihon Hosbalton,
Henry Mortimer, Philip Halle & Willia his brother, & laques de Ormod & diuerse
other. But when he saw y the Frenchmen made no semblance to fight, he departed
in good ordre of battail by the toune of Amiece to a toune nere to a castle called
Bowes, and there laie twoo daies, euery houre lookyng for battaill. And from thence he
came nere to Corby where he wasstaied that night by reason that the come people and pey-
sants of the countree assembled in greate nombre, .and the men of Armes of the garrison of
Corby skirmished with his armie in the mornyng, which tariyng was to hym bothe ioyous
and profitable, for there he discomfited the crew of horsmen & draue the rustical people
euen to their gates, & also found there thesame daie a shalow forde betwene Corby &
Peron, whiche neuer was espied before. At the whiche he, his armie & cariages the night
ensuyng passed the great riuer of Some without let or daungier, the morowe after sainct
Lukes daie, determined withall diligence to passe to Caleis, and not to seke for battail
except he wer therto constrained & compelled, because that his armie by sickenesse was
sore minished and appaired, for he had onely two. M. horsemen and. xiii.M. Archers, bill
men and of all sortes. The Englishemen were afflicted in this iourney with an hundred
discomodities, for their vitaile was in maner all spent, and nevve they could get none, for
their enemies had destroyed all the corne before their comyng: Rest they could take none,
for their enemies wer euer at hande, daily it reined and nightly it fresed, of fuell was
skacenes and of fluxes was plenty, money they had ynough but comforle thei had none.
And yet in this great necessitee the poore folkes wer not spoyled nor any thyng without pai-
nient was .of the .extorted, nor great offence was doen except one, whiche was that a fool-
ishe souldier stale a pixe out of a churche and vnreuerently did eate the holy hostes with-
in thesame conteigned. For whiche cause he was apprehended, and the kyng would not
once remoue till the vessel was restored & the offender strangled. The people of the
countrees there aboute hearyngof his straight iustice & godly mynd, ministered tohym bothe
vitailes & other necessaries, although by open proclamacio they wer therof prohibited.
THE Frenche kyng beyng at Roan, hearyng that the kyng of Englande was passed the
water .of .Some, was not a little discontente, and assembled his counsaill to the numbre of.
xxxv. »to consult what should be doen, the chief whereof were the Dolphin his sonne
whose name was Lewes, callyng hymself kyng of Cicile, the dukes of Berry & Britayn
therle of Pontieu the kynges youngest sonne and diuerse other, wherof xxx. agreed that the
Englishmen should not departe vnfoughten with all, and fiue wer of the contrary opinion,
tut the greater niwnbre ruled the matter. And so Mountioye kyng at Armes was sent to the
kyng of Englande to ,defie hym as the enemie of Fraunce, and to tell hym that heshould
shortly haue battaill. Kyng Henry soberly aunswered : Sir myne entent and desire is none
other, but to do as it pleaseth Almighty God and as it hecometh me, for surely I will Tiot eeke
your Master at this tyme, but if .he or his seke me I wil willyngly fight with hym. And if
any of your nacion attempt once to stoppe me in my iourney toward Caleis, at their ieopardy
be it, and yet my desire is that none of you be so vnaduised or harebrained as to be the
,ftcc.asi.on that I in my defence shall coloure and make redde your tawny grounde with the
deathes
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 65
deathes of your selfes and theffusion of Christen bloud. When he had aunswered the
harauld , he gaue to him a great reward & liceced him to depart.
WHEN the Lordes of Fraunce heard the kyng of Englandes answere, it was inconti-
nent proclayrned, that all men of warre should resorte to the Constable of Fraunce to fight
with the kyng of Englande and his puissaunce. Wherupon all men accustomed to beare
Armure and desirous to wyn honor through the realme of Fraunce drewe toward the fold.
The Dolphyn sore desired to bee at that battaile, but he was prohibited by the kyng his fa-
ther, likewise Philip erle of Charolous sonne to the Duke of Burgoyn would gladly haue
been at that noble assemble if the duke his father would haue suffred hym, but many of his
men stale awaie and went to the Frenchemen.
THE Kyng of Englande informed by his espialles that the daie of battail was nerer then
he loked for, dislodged from Bomyers & roade in good arraie through the faire piaine beside
the toune of Blangy, where to the intent that his armie should not bee included in a streight
or driuen to a corner, he chose a place mete and conueniente for two armies to darrayne bat-
tail betwene the tounes of Blangy and Agincourte, where he pight his felde.
THE Constable of Fraunce, the Marshall, the Admirall, the Lorde Rambures Master of
the Crossebowes and diuerse lordes and knightes pitched their banners nere to the banner
royall of the Constable in the Countee of sainct Paule within the territory of Agincourte, by
the whiche waie the Englishernen muste nedes passe towarde Caleis. The Frenchemen
made greate fires about their banners, and they were in numbre had. Ix. M. horsemen, as
their owne historians and writers affirme, beside footemen pages and wagoners, and all that
night made greate chere and were rery mery. The Englishmen that night sounded their trom-
pettes and diuecse instrumentes Musicall with greate melody, and yet they were bottie hungery,
wery, sore traueled and rnuche vexed with colde deseases: Howbeit tliey made peace with
God, in confessyng their synnes, requiring hym of help, and receiuyng the holy sacramente,
cuery man encouragyng and determinyng clerely rather to die then either to yelde or Hie.
NOW approched the fortunate faire daie to the Englishemen and the infest and vnlucky The }«
daie to the Frenche nobilitee, whiche was the fiue and twentv daie of October in the vere of of Affin"
v */ CO11! ' .
our Lorde lesu Chnste a thousande foure hundred and fifteene, bceyng then Fridaie and
the daie of Crispin and Crispinian. On tlie whiche daie in the mornyng, the Frenche
menne made thre battailes : In" the \raward wer eight thousande Ilealmes of Knightes and
Esquiers and foure thousande Archers and fiftene hundred- Crosebowes, which were guyded
by the Lord Delabret Constable of Fraunce, hauyng with hym the dukes of Orlcaunce and
Burbone, therles of Ewe and Richmond the Marshall Bonciqualt and the Master of the
Crosebowes, the Lorde Dampier Admirall of Fraunce and other capitaincs. And the erle
of Vandosme and other the kynges officers with. xvj. C. men of Armes wer 01 dred for a.
wyng to that battail. And the other wyng was guided by sir Guyshard Dolphyn and sir
Clugnet of Brabant and sir Lewes of Burbon with. viij. C. menne of Armes, of chosen
and elect persones. And to breake the shot of the Englishemen wer appoincled sir
Guylliii of Sauesens with Hector and Philip his brethren. Ferry of Maylley and Alen of
Gaspanes with other, viij. C. men cf Armes. In the midle ward wer assigned as many per-
soues or mo as wer in the formoste battail, and therof was the charge comitted to the dukes
of Barr and Alenson, therles of Neuers, Vawdemont, Blamout, Salynges, Grafitpree and of.
Roussy. And in the rerewarde were all the other men of Armes, guyded by the erics of.
Marie, Dampmartyne, Fawquenberge and the Lorde of Lourrey Capitayne of Arclc, who
had with hym men of the Frontiers of Bolonoys.
WHEN these battailes were thus ordred, it was a. glorious sight to behold the, and surely
they wer estetned to be in numbre sixe times as many or more then was the whole compaigny
of the Englishmen with wagoners pages and all. Tims the Frenchmen wer euery man vnder
his banner only waityog for the blouddy blast of the terrible trompet, and in this ordre they
continued restyng themselfes and reconciling euery one to other for all old rancors and hatredcs
whiche had been betwene theim, till the houre betwene. ix. and, x. of the daie. Duryng
K whiche
66 THE. III. YERE OF
whiche season, the Constable of Fraunce saied openly to the capitayues iu effecte as fo-
loweth.
The ornciou FIIENDES and companions in armes, I canot but bothe reioyce and lament the chances
°faUeof 5" ^ f°rtunes °f these two armies whiche I openly se and behold with myne iyes here presente.
j>»uce. I reioyce for the victor ie whiche I se at hand for our part, and I lamet and sorow for the
misery and calamitee whiche I perceiue to approche to the otherside: For wee cannot but
be victours and triuphant conquerors, for who saw euer so florisshyng an armie within
any Christian region, or suche a multitude of valiaunt persones in one compaignie? Is not
here the flower of the Frenche nacion on barded horsses with sharpe speares and dedly wea-
pons? Are not here the bold Britons with fiery handgones and sharpe swerdes? Se you
uot present the practised Pickardes with strong and weightie Crossebowes? Beside these,
we haue the fierce Brabanders & strong Almaines with long pykes and cuttyng slaughmesses.
And on the otherside is a s?mal handfull of pore Englishmen whiche are entred into this re-
gion in hope of some gain or desire of proffite, whiche by reson that their vitaill is cosumed
& spent, are by daily famyn sore wekened, consumed & almost without spirites* for their
force is clerly abated and their strength vtterly decaied, so ^ or the battailes shall ioyne
they shalbe for very feblenes vaquished & ouercom, & in stede of men ye shal fight with
shadowes. For you must vnderstand, y kepe an Englishma. one moneth from his warme bed,
fat befeand stale drynke, and let him that season tast colde and suflfre hunger, you then shall
se his courage abated, his bodye waxe leane and bare, and euer desirous to returne into his
owne countrey. Experience now declareth this to be true, for if famine had not pinched
them, or colde wether had not nipped them surely they would haue made their progresse
farther into Fraunce, and not by so many perilous passages retired towarde Calays. Suche
courage is in Englishmen when fayre weather and vitaile folow them, and suche vveaknes
they haue when famine and cold vexe and trouble them. Therfore nowe it is no mastery to
vanquishe and ouerthrowe them, beyng both wery & weake, for by reason of feblenes and
faintnes their weapones shal fal out of their handes when they prefer to strike, so that ye may
no easilier kyll a poore shepe then destroye them beyng alredy sicke & hungerstaruen. But
imagyn that they wer lusty, strong and couragious, and then ponder wisely the cause of their
comyng hither, and the meanyng of their enterprice: Fyrst their king a yong striplyng (more
mete for a tenice playe then a warlike campe), claimeth the croune, scepter and souereign-
tie of the verye substance of the Frenche nacion by battaile: then he and his entende to oc-
cupy this countrey, inhabite this land, destroy our wiues and children, extinguishe our blud
and put our names in the blacke boke of obliuion. Wherfore remembre wel, in what
quarel can you better fight then for the tuicio of your nataral countrey, the honor of your
prince, the surety of your children and the sauegard of your land and Hues. If these
causes do not encourage you to fight, beholde before your eyes the tetes of your enemies,
with treasure, plate & Jewels wel stuffed and richely furnished, which pray is surely yours
if euery ma strike but one stroke, besyde the great raunsomes whiche shalbe paied for
riche capitaines and welthy prisoners, whiche as surely shall be yours as you now had
them in your possession. Yet this thyng I charge you withal, that in nowise the kyng
him selfe be killed, but by force or otherwise to be appreheded & taken to the entent that
with glorye & triumphe we may conuey him openly through the noble cytie of Paris to oure
kyng and dolphyn as a testimony of our victory & witnes of our noble act. And of this
thyng you be sure, that fly they cannot, and to yelde to our fight of necessitie they shalbe
compiled. Therfore good felowes take courage to you, the victory is yours, the gaine is
yours & the honor is yours without great laboure or muche losse.
KYNG Henry also like a leader & not like one led, like a souereigne and not like a
souldior ordred his men for his most aduantage like an expert capitaine and a couragious
warrier. And fyrst he sent priuely CC. archers into a low medowe which was nere to the
forward of his enemies, but separate with a great diche, and were there commaunded to kepe
them selues close tyl they had a token to them geuen to shote at their aduersaries. Beside
this
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 67
this he appoincted a vawarde, of the which he made capitayne Edward duke of Yorke whiche
of a hauie courage had of the kyng required and obteined that office: and with him were
the lordes Beaumond, Wylloughby and Fanhope, and this battaile was all archers. Tlie
middle ward was gouerned by the kyng him self with his brother the duke of Gloucester,
& theories Marshal, Oxford andSuffolke, in the which wer al the strong bilmen, The duke
of Exceter vncle to the kyng led the rercward, whiche was mixed both with archers & bil-
inen. The horsemen like winges went on euery side of the battaile. When the king had thus
ordred his battaile, like a puissaunt coqueror without feare of his enemies, yet cosiderlng the
multitude of them farre to excede the smal nombre of his people, doubtyng that the
Frenchemen would compasse and beset him aboute, and so fight with him on euery side, to
thentent to vaquish the power of the French horsmen whiche might breake the ordre and
arraye of his Archers, in whom the whole force of the baitaile did consist and in maner re-
maine he caused stakes bound with yron sharpe at both endes of the length of v. or. vi.
fote to be pitched before the Archers and of euery side the fote men like an edge, to the
entent that if the barde horses ranne rashely vpo them, they might shortely be gored and de-
stroied, & appointed certeine persons to remoue the stakes when the Archers inoued, and
as tyme required : so that the fotemen were hedged about with the stakes, and the horsemen
stode like a bulwerke betwene the and their enemies without the stakes. This deuice of
fortifiyng an armye was at this tyme fyrst inuented, but sence that tyme, they haue
imagined caltrappes, harowes and other newe trickes to defende the force of the hors-
men so that if the enemies at auenture runne against their engines, either sodeinly their
horses be wounded with the stakes, or their feete hurt with the other engines, so that of
very necessitie for paine, the sely pore beastes are compelled to fal and tumble to the
ground. When he had ordred thus his baitailes, he left a smal company to kepe his
campe & baggage, and then callyng his capitaines and soldiours about him, he made to
them an heartie Oracion in effect as foloweth, saiyng.
WELBELOUED frendes and countrymen, I exhort you heartely to thinke and con- ^ °™rioa
ceiue in yourselues that this daye shalbe to vs all a day of ioy, a day of good lucke and a day Hcnr/the
of victory: For truely if you well note and wisely considre all thynges, almighty God vnder whose fiftl
protection we be come hither, hath appoincted a place so mete and apt for our purpose as we
our selves could nether haue deuised nor wished whiche as it is apt and conuenient for our
smal nombre and litle army so is it vnprofitable and vnmete for a great multitude to fi^ht or
geue battaile in : and in especial for suche men in whom is neither constant faith nor securitie
of promise, whiche persons be of God neither fauored nor regarded, nor he is not accustomed
to ayde and succoure suche people whiche by force and strength contrary to right &
reason detain and kepe from other their iust patrimony and lauful inheritance, with whiche
blotte and spotte the Frenche nacion is apparantly defyled and distained: so that God of
his iustice wyll scourge and aflicte them for their manifest iniuries and open wronges to vs
and our realme dayly committed and done. Therfore puttyng your onely trust in him,
let not their multitude feare youre heartes, nor their great nombre abate your courage :
for surely old warlike fathers haue both said and written that the more people that an army
is, the lesse knowledge the multitude hath of material feates or politique practises, whiche
rude rustical and ignorant persons shalbe in the feld vnto hardy capitaines and lusty
men of warre a great let and sore impediment. And though they al were of Jike pollicy, like
audacitie and of one vniforme experience in rnarcial affayres, yet we ought neither to feare
them nor once to shrinke for them consideryng that we come in the right, whiche euer of
God is fauored, set furth and auansed: in whiche good and iust quarel al good persons
shal rather set bothe theyr feete forward, then once to turne theyr one heale backward.
For if you aduenture your Hues in so iust a battaile & so good a cause, whiche way so-
euer fortune turne her whele, you shalbe sure of fame, glory and renoune: If you be
victors and ouercome your enemies, your strength and vertue shalbe spred and dispersed
through the whole world: If you ouerpressed with s$ great a multitude shal happe to be
K 2 slaine
6* THE. III. YERE OF
slaine or taken yet neither reproche can be to you ascribed, either yet infamy of you report-
ed, consideryng that Hercules alone was not equiuolent vnto. ii. men, nor a smal handfull
is not equal to a great nombre, for victory is the gift of God and consistcth not in the
puissaunce of men. Wherfore manfully set on your enemies at theyr fyrst encountre,
strike with a hardy courage on the false hearted Frenchemen, whom youre noble aun-
cestours haue so often ouercome and vanquished. For surely they be not so strong to geue
the onset vpo you, but they be much weaker to abide your stregth in a long fight and tyred
battaile. As for me I assure you al, that England for my person shall neuer paye raun-
some, nor neuer Frencheman shall triumph ouer me as his capitain, for this day by
famous death or glorious victory I wyl wynne honor and obtaine fame. Therfore now ioy-
ously prepare your seines to the battaile and couragiously fight with your enemies, for
at this very ty me all the realme of Englande praieth for our good lucke and prosperous
successe.
WHILE the kyng was thus speakyng, eche armye so maligned & grudged at the other
beyng in open sight and euident apparence, that euery man cried furth, furth, forward
forward. The dukes of Clarece Gloucester and Yorke were of the same opinion, thinkyng
it most conuenient to marche toward theyr enemies with al spede & celeritie, least in pro-
longyng of tyme and arguyrig of opinions, the Frenche armye might more and more
increace & hourly multiply. Howbeit the kyng taried a while least any ieopardy were
not forsene, or any hazard not preuented.
THE Frenchemen in the rneane season litle or nothyng regardyng the small nombre of
thenglishe nacion, were of suche haute courage and proud stomackes that they took no
thought for the battaile, as who saye they were victours and ouercomers before any stroke
was striken, and laughed at the Englishmen, and for very prid thought the selues lifted
into heauen iestyng and boastyng that they had thenglish men inclosed in a straight
and had ouercome and take them without any resistance. The capitaines determined howe
to deuide the spoyle: the souldiors plaied the Englishmen at dice: the noble men deuised
a chariot how they might triumphantly conueigh kyng Henrye beyng captiue to the cytie
of Paris, criyng to theyr souldiors, hast your selues to obtaine spoile, glory and honor, to
thentent that we may study howe to geue you thankes for the great giftes and rewardes
which we hope to receiue of your great liberalitie. The folishe folye of this vaine solace
brake out so farre, that messengers were sent to the cyties and tounes adioyning, willyng
them to make open playes find triumphes, (as though that the victory were to them
certaine & no resistance could appeare) and also to geue God thankes for their prosperous
net and notable dede, not remembryng that the whjrlewynd shortely with a puft'e blew
away al their folishe ioy and phantastical braggyng.
Of this doyng you may gather, that it is asmuche madness to make a determinate Judge-
ment of thinges to come, as it is wisdome to doubt what wyll folowe of thinges be-
gone. I may not forgdt how the Freche men beyng in this pleasaunt pastyme, sent a
herault to kyng Henry to inquyre what raunsome he wold offre, and how he answered
that within, ii. or. iii. houres he hoped that it should so happen that the Frenchemen
should comen rather with thenglishmen how to be redemed, then the Englishmen should
take thought how to pay any rausome or money for theyr deliuerance: asserteinyng them
for him selfe that his dead carion should rather be their pray, then his liuyng body should
pay any raunsome. When the messenger was departed, the Frenchmen put on theyr heal-
mettes and set the in ordre vnder theyr banners, richely armed and gorgeously trapped
and caused theyr trumpettes to blowe to the battaile.
THE Englishemen perceiuyng that, sette a lytle forwarde, before whom there went an
old knight called syr Thomas of ^ierpingham, a man of great experience in warre, with
a warder in his hand, and when hrf cast vp his warder, al the army shouted, at the which
the Frenchmen muche marueiled, out that was a sign to the Archers in the meadowe, which
knowing the token, shot wholy altogether at the vavvard of the Freachemen. When they
perceiued
KYNG HENRY THE. V. €9
i
pcrceiued the archers in the meadow, who they saw not before, and sawc they could not
come to them for a diche, they with al hast set on kyng Henries forwarde, hut or they'
ioyned, the archers in the forfront and the archers on the side whiche stode in the meadow,
so wounded the iblenien, so galled the horses and so combred the men of armes that the
fotemen durst not go forward, the horsemen rune in plumpes without drdre, some ouer-
threw his felovv, and horses ouerthrew their maisters: So at the fyrst ioyuyng, as the Frenchemen
wer clcarely discouraged, so thenglishmen were muche chered. When the Frenche vaward was
thus discomfited, the English archers cast away theyr bowes & tokeinto theyr handes axes,
nialles and swordes,billes and other weapons, and thenvith slewe the Frenchmen tyll they
came to the middleward. Then the king approched and encoragrd his souldiors, that
sliortly the second battaile was ouerthrowen and dispersed not without' great slaughter of
men: howbeit diuers beyng wounded wer releued by their varieties and conueighed out of
the fclde, for the Englishmen so sore labored with fightyng and slaiyng, and wer so busy in
takyng of prisoners that they folowed no chace, nor would once breake out of the battaile.
The Frenchmen strongly wstode the fearcenes of Thenglishmen when thei came to hady
strokes, so that the fight was very doubtful & perilous. And when one part of the French-
horse men thought to haue entred into the kynges battaille, they were with the stakes ouer
turned, and either slain or taken.
THUS this battaile continued, iii. long houres, some strakc, some defeded, some foyned,
some trauersed, some kylled, some toke prisoners noman was idle, euery man fought either
in hope of victory or glad to saue him selfe. The kyng that clay shewed him selfe like a
valiaunt knight, whiche notwithstandyng that he was almost felled with the duke of Alaun-
son, yet with plain strength he" slew. ii. of the dukes company and felled the duke: but when
the duke would haue yelded him, the kynges garde cotrary to the kynges ininde outragiously
slewe him. And in conclusion, mindyng to make an ende of that daies iorncy, caused his
horsmen to fetch a compasse about & to ioyne with him against the rereward of Fraunce:
in the whiche battaile were the greatest nombre of people. When the Frenchmen per-
ceiued his entent, they wer sodenly amased and ranne away like shepe without aray or ordre.
When the kyng perceiued the banners cast doune & the aray was clerely broken, he en-
coraged his souldiors and folowed so quickly that the Frenchmen turnyng to flight, ranne
hither and thither not knowyng whiche way to take, castyng away their armure and on theyr
knes desired to haue theyr hues saued. In the meane season while the battaile thus con-
tinued and that thenglitihmen had taken a great nobre of prisoners, certain Frenchmen on
horsbackeVherof were captaines Robinet of Borneuile, Kifflart of Clamas and Isarnbert of
Agincourt and other 'men of Armes to the nombre of. vi. C. horsemen : whiche fled fyrst
from the felde at theyr fyrst commyng and hearyng that the Englishe tentes and pauilions
were farre from the army without any great nobre of kepers or persons mete and couenient
for defence, partly moued and styrred with coueteous desire of spoyle and pray, and partly
entendyng by some notable act to reuenge the damage and displeasure done to them it theirs
in battail the same day, entred into the kynges campe beyng voide of men and fortefied
with varieties & lackeys, and ther spoyled hales, robbed tentes, brake vp chestes and caried
awaye caskettes and slewe suche seruantes as they could fynd in the tentes and pauilions.
For the whiche act thei wer long imprisoned and sore punished and like to haue lost their
liues if the Dolphyn had longer liued.
WHEN the kyng by a feareful messenger was of this euil acte soclainly aduertised, and
when the outcry of the lackeys and boyes whiche rane away for feare of the robbers was
heard into the felde, saiyng that the Frenchmen had robbed all the tentes and lodgynges of
the Englishmen, he fearyng least his enemies beyng dispersed and scattered abroad should
gather together againe and beginne a new felde: and doubtyng farther that the prisoners
would ether be an aide to his enemies or very enemies to him if he should sufire them
to hue, contrary to his accustomed gentlenes and pitie he comaunded by the sounde of a
ompet that euery man vpon paine of death should incotinently sley his prisoner. When
this
70 THE. III. YERE OF
this dolorous decre & pitiful proclamacio was pronounced, pitie it was to se and lotlisome
it was to behold how some Frenchmen wer sodainly slicked with daggers, some wer brained
with polaxes, some wer slain with malles, other had theyr throtes cut and some their bellies
paunched: so that in effecte hauyng respecte to the greate nombre, few prisoners or none
were satied.
WHEN this lamentable manslaughter was finished, thenglishemen forgettyng their
woundes and hurtes and not remembring what paine they had sustained all day in fightyng
with their enemies, as men that wer freshe and lusty, ranged them selues again in aray both
prest and redy to abide a newe felde, and also to inuade and newly to set on theyr enemies,
and so couragiously thei set on the carles of Marie and Fauconbrige and the lordes of Lou-
ray & of Thyne, whiche with. vi. C. men of armes had all day kept together and slew them
out of hand.
When the kyng had passed through the felde & saw neither resistence nor apparaunce of
any Frenchmen sauyng the dead corsses, he caused the retrayte to be blowen and brought
al iiis armie together about, iiij. of the clocke at after noone. And fyrst to geue thankes
to almightie God geuer & tributor of this glorious victory, he caused his prelates & cliape-
laines fyrst to sing this psalme In exitu Israel de Egipto. £c. commaundyng euery man to
knele doune on the ground at this verse. Non nobis domine, non nobis, sed nomine tuo da
gloriam, whiche is to say in Englishe, Not to vs lord, not to vs, but to thy name let the glory
be geuen: whiche done he caused Te deuni with certeine anthemes to be song geuyng
laudes and praisyngcs to God, and not boastyng nor braggyng of him selfe nor his humane
power.
THAT night he toke refrcshyng of suche as he found in the Freche campe, and in the
mcrnyng Moutioy kyng at armes and. iiij. Heraultes came to him to know the nombre of
prisoners and to desire burial! for them whiche were slaine. Before he could make any an-
swere to the Heraultes he remembryng that it is more honorable to bee praised of his ene-
mies then to be extolled of his frendes: and he that praiseth him self lacketh louyng neigh-
bors: wherforc he demaunded of the why they made to hym that request, considryng that he
knew not certainly whether the praise & the victory wer mete to be attributed to him or to
their nacion. Oh lorde qh Mountioy kyng at armes, thinkeyou vs officers of armes to be rude
and bestial persones? If we for the affection that we beare to our naturall countrey, would
ether for fauor or mede hide or deny your glorious victory: The foules of the aire, the
wormes of the ground fedyng on the multitude of the ded carions, by your onely puys-
saunce destroyed and confounded, will beare witnesse against vs, ye and muche more the
captiues whiche be lining and in your possessio with their wiues and litle infauntes will saie
wee bee open liers and vntrue taletellers: Wherfore according to the ducty of our office
whiche is or should bee alwaics indifferently to write and truely to iudge, we saie, deter-
myne and affirme that the victory is yours, the honour is yours and yours is the glory, ad-
uisyng you, as you haue manfully gotten it, so polletikely to vse it. Well saied the kyng,
seeyng this is your determinacion, I willyngly accept the same, desiryng you to know the
name of the castle ncre adioynyng. When they had answered that it was called Agyncourt,
he said that this conflict should be called the battaill of Agyncourt, whiche victory hath not
been obteigned by vs nor our power, but only by the suffraunce of GOD for iniury and vn-
truth that we haue receiued at the handes of your Prince and his nacion. That daie he
feasted the French officers of Armes and graunted to theim their request, whiche busily
sought through the felde for such as \\er slain, but the Englishmen suffred them not to go
alone for thei searched with them and found many hurt but not in Jeopardy of their life,
whom thei tokc prisoners and brought them into their tentes.
WHEN the kyng ofEnglande had well refreshed hymself and his souldiours and had ta-
ken the spoyie of suche as were slain, he with his prisoners in good ordre returned to his
toune of Caleis. When tidynges of this notable victory was blowen into Englande, so-
Jempne processions and other praisynges to almightie GOD, with bonefiers and dances wer
] ordeined
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 71
onleined in euery toune, citee and borough, and the Maire and the citizens of the citee of
London went the tnorowe after the daie of sainct Simon and lude from the Churche of
Sainct Paule to the church ofS. Peter at Westminster in deuoute manner, reudryng to God
their inoste humble and heartie thanlces for his haboundant grace and fortunate lucke geuen
and sent to the kyng their souereigne lorde.
WHEN the kyng of Englande was departed the sondaie toward Caleis, diuerse French-
men repaired to the plain where the battaill was and remoued againe the ded bodies, some
to finde their lordes and masters and theim to conueigh into their countrees there to bee
buried, some to spoyle and take the reliques whiche the Englishemen had left behinde:
For thei toke nothing but gold, siluer, iuelles, riche apparell and costly armure. But the
ploughmen and peysantes spoyled the dcd carkasses, leuyng theim nether shirte nor cloute,
and so thei laie starke naked till Wednesdaie. On the whiche daie diuerse of the noble men
wer conueighed into their countrees and the remnant were by Philip erle Charoloys (sore
lamentyng the chaunce and moued with pitee) at his cost and charge buried in u square
plot of. xv.C. vardes, in the which he caused to be made thre pittes, wherin wer buried
by accompt. v.M. and. viii.C. persons beside them that wer caried awaie by their frendes and
seruauntes, and other whiche beyng wounded to death died in Hospitalles and other places,
whiche groue after was made a churche yarde, and for feare of Wolues enclosed with a
high walle.
AFTER this dolorus iorney and piteous slaughter, diuerse clerckes of Paris made many
lamentable Verses, complainyng that the kyng reigned by will, and that coiisaillers wer
perciall, affirrnyng that the noble men fled fagainst nature, and that the commons were des-
troyed by their prodigalite, declaryng also that the clergy wer dombe and durst not saie the
truth, and that the humble comons duely obeyed and yet euer suffred ponishement: For
whiche cause by persecucion deuine, the lessc numbre vanquished, and the great was ouer-
come. Wherfore thei concluded that all thynges were out of ordre, and yet there was no
man that studied to bryng the unruly to frame. And no meruel though this battaill were
dolorus and lamentable to the Freuche nacion, for in it were taken and slayn the flower of
all the nobilite of Fraunce, for there wer taken prisoners- *
Charles duke of Orleaunce nephew to the Frenche kyng.
Ihon duke of Burbone. The young Lorde of Dynchy,
Ihon of Craon lord of Dommart. Sir Ihon of Vawcort
The Lorde of Fossenx. Sir Arthure Bremyer.
The Lorde of Humyers. Sir lenet of Poys.
The Lorde of Roye. The sone & heirc of the lord Ligny.
The Lorde of Cauny. Sir Gylbert de lawney.
Sir Borsqueret lorde of Hiicourt. The Lorde Daneobe in Ternoys and dt-
The lorde of Noell called the whit knight uerse other to the numbre of fiftene
and Bado his sonne. hudred knightes and Esquiers besyde
Lorde Boncequalt Marshall of Fraunce the common people,
whiche died in Engliid.
There wer slain of nobles and gentlemen.
Charles lorde Delabreth hie Constable Anthony duke of Brabant brother to
of Fraunce^ the duke of Burgoyn.
Jaques of Chastilon lorde of Dapier Edward duke of Barre.
Admirall of Fraunce. Therle Neuers brother to J duke of Burr
The Lorde Rambures Master of the goyn.
Crossebowes. Sir Robert Barre erle of Marie.
Sir Guyshard Dolphyn greate Master of The erle of. Vawdemont.
Fraunce; The erle of Bawmont
Ihon duke of. Alaunson. The erle of Graundpre.
The
72. ", THE. III. YERE OF
The erle of Rqussy. The lord of Loguale his brother.
The erle of Faucenberge. The lord of Mawley & his sonne.
The erle of Foys. The lord of Diuirie.
The erle of Lestrake. The lord of Newffile.
The lorde Boys of Burbon. The lord of Galigny.
The Vidane of Amias. The lord of Rocheguiche.
The lord of Croy'e. The Vicedane of Lamoys.
The lord Belly. The lord de Laligier.
The lord Dauxcy. The lord of Baffremont.
The lord of Brenew. The lord sainct Bris.
The lord of Paix standard berar. The lord of Coutes and his sonne.
The lord of Crcquy. The lord of Nannes & his brother.
The lord of Lowrey. The lord of Ront.
The Baily of Amience & his sonne. The lord of Applincort.
The lord of Raynuale. The lord Delariuer
with diuerse other vvhiche I leaue out for tediousnes. But surely by the relacion
of the Heraultes and declaracion of other notable persons worthy of credite as Enguer-
rant writeth, there were slain on the Frenche parte aboue ten thousande persones wherof
wer princes and nobles bearyng banners Cxxvi. and all the remnant sauyng. xvi. C. wer
knightes esquiers and gentlemen : so of noble men and gentlemen were slain, viii. M. iiii. C,
of the whiche. v. C. wer dubbed knightes the night before the battaill. Fro the felde escaped
on Hue, the erle Dampmartyn, the lorde Delariuier, Clunet of Brabante, sir Lewes of
Burbon, sir Galiot of Gaules, sir Ihon Dengermes and fevve other men of name.
OF Englishemen at this battaill wer slain Edward duke of Yorke therle of Suffolk, sir
Richard Kikely & Dauygame esquire, & of al other not aboue. xxv. if you wil geue credite
to such as write miracles: but other writers whom I soner beleue, affirme that there was
slain aboue v. or vj. C. persons, whiche is not vnlike, considryng y the battail was earnestly
and furiously fought by the space of three long houres wherfore it is not incredible nor vet
vnpossible but more Englishmen then fine and twenty were slain and destroyed.
TH IS battail maie be a mirror and glas.se to al Christian princes to bcholde and folowe,
for kyng Henry nether trusted in the puissaunce of his people, nor in the fortitude of his
champions, nor in the strength of his bardcd horses, nor yet in his owne pollicy, but he
putte in GOD (whiche is the corner stone and immouable rocke) his whole cofidence hope
& tru.<t. And he which neuer leaueth them destitute that put their confidence in hym, sent
to hym this glorious victory, whiche victory is almoste incredible if we had not recde in
the boke of kynges that God likewise had defended and aided them that onely put their
trust in him and committed them selfes wholy to his gouernaunce.
AFTER that the kyng of Englande had refreslned hymself and his souldiours in the toune
of Caleis, and that suche prisoners as he had left at Harfflew (as you haue heard) wer come
to hym to Caleis : the. vi. daie of Noucmbre he with all his prisoners toke shippyng at Caleis,
and thesame dale landed at Douer, hauyng with hym the ded bodies of the duke of Yorke
and the erle of Suffolke, and caused the duke to bee buried at his colledge of Fodrynghey,
and therle at Ewhelme. In this passage the seas were so rough and trobleous that two
shippes laden with souldicrs apperteignyng to sir Ihon Cornewal lorde Fanhope, wer driuen
into zelande, howbeit nothyng was lost nor no person was perished. The kyng by soft
iorneies with al his prisoners cam to London and so to Westminster, where he rested hym-
self a conueniet tyme to deliuer his prisoners to their kepers, and to se them all in saue
custody. Here I might declare vnto you if I would bee tedious and piolixe, how the
May re of London and the Senate appareled in oriet grayned Skarlet, how. iij. C. cornoners
clad in beautiful Murrey wel mounted and gorgeously horsed with riche collers and greate
chaynes met the kyng at Blackhethe, reioysvng at his victorious rcturne. How the clergie
of
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
Ctf London with ri'che crosses, suptcous copes & massy cesers receiued hym at. s. Thomas of
Wateryng with solepne procession laudyng and praisyng God for the high honor and victory ;
to hymgeuen & graunted: but all these thynges I omit and returne to the very matter.
WHEN the dolorus tidynges of this bloudy battail was declared to the Frenche kyng
beyng then at Roan, and with hym the Dolphyn, the dukes of Berry and Briteyne and his
second sonne therle of Ponthew, if he lamented this chaunce and cursed that euill daie in
the whiche he lost so many noble men, no man haue maruaill. And yet the dolor was not
onely his, for the ladies souned for the deathes of their husebandes, the Orphalines wept and
rent their heares for the losse of their parentes, the faire damoselles defied that day in the
whiche they had lost their paramors, the seruates waxed mad for dcstruccio of their masters,
and finally, euery frend for hisfrend, euery cosynfor his alye, euery neighbor for his neigh-
bor, was sorry, displeased & greued. Wherfore the Frenche kyng and his counsaill per-
ceiuyng that the war was but newly begon, and that towarde them with euill spede, deter-
mined to prouide for chances that might folowe, and to forsee thynges or thei sodainly hap-
pened. And first he elected his chief officer for the warres called the Constable, whiche
wes therle of Arminack, a wise and a pollitique capitain and an auncient enemy to thenglish-
men, and sir Ihon of Corsey was made Master of the Crosbowes, and then they fortefied
tounes & furnished garrisons. While these thynges were thus in workyng, either for Ma-
lencoly that he had for the losse at Agincourt or by some sodein desease, Ihon Dolphyn of
Vienoys heire apparaunte to Charles the Frenche kyng departed out of this naturall life
xvithout issue, whiche was an happy chaunce for Robynet of Bournouile and his compaign-
ions as you haue heard before, for his death was their life, and his life would haue been
their death.
f THE FOURTH YERE.
AFter this notable victory obteigned by the Englishemen and that kyng Henry was de- The. mi,
parted into England, and the Frenche kyng had made newe officers in hope to releue and >'"e>
sette vp again the olde estate of his realme and coutrie. Thomas duke of Excester capitain .
of Harflew accompaignied with thre. M. Englishmen made a great roade into Normandy,
almoste to the citee of Roan : In whiche iorney he gat great habundance bothe of riches,
and prisoners. But in his returne therle of Arminacke newly made Conestable of Frauncc,
entendyng in his first iorney to wynne his spurres, and in his compaignie aboue. v. M. horsse-
men, encountred with hym. The skirmishe was sore and the fight fierce, but because the -
Englishemen wer not able to resist the force of the Frenche horsemen, the duke to sane his
men was compelled to retire, as politiquely as he could cleuise: But for all that he could do,
he loste almoste. ccc. of his fotemen. The Frenchemen not contet with this good lucke .
folowed theim almoste to the Barriers of Harflew. When the Englishemen within the toune .
espied the chace, thei issued out in good ordre and met with their enemies, and not onely
slew and toke a greate numbre of theim, but also chased them aboue eMite miles toward
the citee of Roan.
ABOVTE this ceason Sigismond Emperor of Almayn whiche had maricd Barbara douyh-
ter to therle of zilie cosyn germain remoued to kyng Henry (as by the peel i "re set out in
the end of this boke you shall plainly perciue) a man of greute vertuc and fidclilie,
whiche had not onely long labored to set an vnitee and cocord in Christes clmrche and
Christian religio, but also he sent diuerse Ambassadors aswel to y Freche kyng as to the kyn<*
of F.nglande, because he was farre distaunt from their countries and regions 10 encrease
perfight peace and reasonable vnitie. Wherfore, seyng that his Ambassade brought nothynp
to conclusion, he in person came fro the farthest part of Hngary into France and after into
England, intendyng to knit together all christen princes in one line and amitce, and so be-
yng frendes together, to make war and reuenge their quarelles against the Turke the perse-
cutor of Christes faithe and enemie to all christendome. With this noble Emperor came
L the
74 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
the -Archebishop of Reynes and diuerse other noble men, as Ambassadors fro the Frcnche
kyng into England. The kyng of England for old amitee betwene the hous of Englande-
and Beame, withall his nobilitee hym receiued on Blackheth the. vii. daie of Maie, &
brought him through London to Westminster with greate triurnphe, where lustes, tournayes
and other marciall feates wer to hym with all ioye and pleasure shewed and set furth. Du-
ryng whiche tyme there came into Englande Albert duke of hollande, whiche also was
frendly entreteigned. And these two princes were by the kyng conueiged to Wynsore to. S.
Georges feast, and elected compaignions of the noble ordre of the Garter, and had the
color and habite of the same to theirn deliuered, and satte in their stalles all the solempnitee
of the feast[: by the whiche ordre thei knowledged themselfes highly honored and muche ex-
alted. After this solempne feast finished, the duke of Holland well feasted and greatly re-
warded, returned into his countrie. But the Emperor taried stil, neuer ceasyng to declare &
perswade what vtilitee, what goodnes and what ioye might ensue if bothe the realmes of
Englande and Fraunce wer brought to a Snail concord and perfight vnitee. But the euill
chaunce of the Frenche nacion was to his purpose a barre and a lette, because thei were
predestinate to suff're yet more plagues and detrimentes of thenglishe people then before
thei had tasted. For when concorde was at hand and peace was enteryng into the gates, a
newe cause of more discord and dissencion sodainly brake out and came to the kynges
knowledge: for he beyng informed of the losse of his me at the conflict late had in the ter-
ritory of Roan (as you haue heard) was so displeased and vnquieted that he would heare
of no treaty, nor haue once this word peace named.
THE Emperor like a wise prince, seyng then the aspect of the planet reigned contrary to
his purpose, ceassed to talke of that matter any more till another daie when the coniuccion
should be in more meker signes stirryng to peace. And so when a mete & conueniet tyme
came, he broched again the vessell of cocord and amitee, & put it in so faire a cup and pre-
sented it with suche pleasant wordes, that surely the kyng had tasted it sufficiently if y
Frenchme had not sodainly prepared a new army. For therle of Arminacke puffed vp with
his last victory, although the honor wer small and the gaine lesse, determined clerely to get
again the toune of Harflewe, wherfore as closely as he could, he gathered together men in
euery part, and appoincted them all to mete at Harflew at a daie assigned. The ap-
poinctment was kept and the toune was besieged bothe by water & land before the
capitaines of the toune knewe perfightly the first mocion. For Ihon Vicount Narbon
Viceadmirall of Fraunce had brought the whole nauy to the riuage and shore adioy-r
nyng to the toune, entendyng priuely to haue enterd into the toune on the water side or he
had been perceiued. But his subtile ymaginacion toke no place, for thei which kept the
watch toure, sodainly perceiuyng their enemies to approche, rang the alarum bell. The
duke of Excester incontinent caused all his men to repaire to the walles, and fortified the
gates, >and dispatched a swifte Barke to kyng Henry with letters, requiryng hym of aide and
succor. Although the Frenchemen perceiued that their wyly enterprise was knowen, and
that the toune could not be taken and sodenly stollen as they had deuised, yet they cotinued
their siege both by water and by land, and made diuers assaultes, at the whiche if they
nothyng gained, yet euer somewhat they lost. When these newes were come to the eares
of kyng H&nry, and that he knew that his people were in great ieopardye excepte great di-
ligence were vsed for their relief and deliuerance, he without delay apparelled a great, nauy &
intended in person to minister succors to his subiectes so besieged. The emperor Sigismond
sagely disuaded him and wisely counsailed him not to aduenture him selfe in that iorney, but
only to send some valiant captain whiche shortly might appeace that furious storme &
quickly to quenche that blasyng flame : aduertisyng hym that it was neither necessary nor
honorable for a prince in whom the whole waight and charge of the comon welth consisteth,
to aduenture & hazard him self in euery peril and doubtful chaunce. The kyng beyng per-
suaded with the reasonable and louyng aduertisment of his frende the emperor, appoincted
the duke of Bedforde bis brother, accompanied with therles of Marche, Marshal, Oxford,
1 Hunt-
KYNG HENRY THE. V. , 75
Huntyngdon, Warvvicke, Arundel, Salisbury, Deuonshire, and diuers Barons with. CC. sayle
to passe into Normandy for reskew of the toune of Harflew. Whiche makyng good expedi-
cion shipped at Rye, and with a prosperous wind and a freshegale came to the mouth of the
riuer of seyn on the day of the Assumpcion Of our Lady. When the vicount Narbon per-
ceiued the Englishe nauy to approche, he geuyng a token to ail his company, coragiously
set toward his enemies & gate the possession of the mouth of the hauen. When the duke
of Bedford perceiued the nauy of his enemies to come forward so fiersly, he set before
certain strong and well made shippes, whiche at the fyrst encountre vanquished and
toke two Frenche shyppes (wherof the capitaines were rashe and somewhat to bold)
withal their souldiours and tackelyng. The duke folowed incotinently with all his pu-
issance and like a valiant capitaine with great courage and audacitee, set on his ene-
mies: the fight was long, but not so long as perilous, nor so perilous as. terrible, for
battailes of the sea be euer desperate, for neither the assailauntes nor defendants loke
for any refuge, nor know any backdore how to skape out. After long fight the victory
fel to the Englishemen, and they toke and sonkc almost all the whole nauy of Fraunce,
in the whiche were many shippes, hulkes and carikes to the nombre of fiue hundred,
of the whiche. iii. great carickes were sent into England. In the same conflict were
slaine of the Frenchemen no small nombre, as it appeared by their bodies which
swarmed euery day about thenglishe shippes.
AFTER this victory fortunately obteined, the duke of Bedforde sailed by water vp to
to the very toune of Harflew, and without let or impediment landed and refreshed it both
with vitaile and money. Which succours if they were welcome to the duke of Excetter
his vncle, I reporte me to them that haue bene in necessitie and would haue gladly bene
refreshed.
WHEN the earle of Armynacke heard that the puissant nauye of Fraunce was vanquish--
ed & taken, he raised his siege before the toune and returned with sinal ioy to Paris, as he
that had no hope nor sawe any likelyhod or meane to recouer again the toune of Harflew
for whiche he so sore thirsted.
AFTER this discomfiture and great losse, the fortitude & stregth of the Frenchmen began
to decay, & their braggyng beautie began to fade. For nowe the princes & nobles of the
realme fel into diuision & discord among them selues, as who say, that the nobilitie studiyn"
howe to reuenge their olde iniuries and displeasures, refused to take payne for thaduaunce-
ment of the publique wealth and saueguard of their countrey And for priuy displeasure co-
uert or hatred, their power began to wexc so slender, & their libertie was brought intosuche
a malicious diuersitie and doubtful difference, that as herafter shalbe shewed, it was mer-
ueil that their coutrey was not brought to a perpetual bondage : whiche thing no doubt had
tblowed if kyng Henry had lenger liued in this mutable worlde. For notwithstanding that
the duke of Orleaunce the capitaine and head of the one faction was at that time captiue
and prisoner in England, yet there grewe so muche priuy displeasure and cankard hatred
betwene Charles the Dolphyn and Ihon duke of Burgoync, that while the one studied,
compassed and deuised how to ouercome the other with armure or with pollicy, with dissi-
mulacion or crafty coueyaunce, euery iorneiman of their faction, & eucry noble mil partaker
with the one or the other, put all their whole study and diligence to auance forward their
sect and part, and not one of them would take hede howc to resist and refell the present ieo- •
pardye whiche was commyng out of Englad. And as one incouenicnce su fired many to
t'oleJw so was it in Frauce at this tyme, for the French kyng was not of good memory, the
war that was toward, semed both doubtful and perilous, the princes were vntrusty and at
discord, and an hundreth mo thinges which might bryng the realme to extreme misery and
vtter distructio as after you shal heare.
WHEN the duke of Bedford had acheued his enterprise and performed his comission,
bothe in raisyng the siege of Harflew and vitaylyng of the toune, he with no smal nombre of
prisoners and great haboundance of pray aswell in shippes as prouision for the sea, returned
L 2 into
76 THE. V. YKRE OF
into England with great triumph and glory. For that victory he was not so muchc thftked
of the kyng his brother, as lauded and praised by the Emperor Sieisraond beyng to him a
straunger, whiche sayd openly happy are those subiectes whiche haue suche a kyng, but
more happy is the kyng that hath suche subiectes.
WHEN the Emperoure perceiued, that to inoue farther a peace, was but a vayne request,
and to tarye lenger in Englande to procure an amitie was but losse of tyme, because he sawe
the Englishemens myndes sore offended with the last siege of Harflew, with whiche facte, he
hirnselfe was not wel cotent but greatly moued: Therfore leauyng all treaty and persua-
sion, he entred into a league and amitie with the kyng of England. Whiche confederacy
least it shuld be broken, euery of the contractors studyed & deuised all waies & meanes
possible howe to obserue it vnuiolated and preserue it vnbroken : whiche plain meanyng &
true dealyng was to the both after, not only muche honor but great comoditie. When the
Emperor had thus cocluded a league with the kyng of England and had doneal things in
England accordyng as was thought necessary, he toke his iorney homeward into Garumny,
and the kyng partel)' to shew'e him pleasure, and partely because of his owne affaires, associated
him to his toune of Caleys. During whiche tyme the Duke of Burgoyn offerd to come to Caleys
to speake with the Emperor and the kyng because he heard speake of the league and con-
federacy that was concluded betwene them. The kyng sent to the water of Grauelvng the
duke of Gloucester his brother, and the earle of Marche to be hostages for the duke of
Burgoyne, and sent also the earle of Warwicke with a noble company to coduct him to his
presece At Griuielyng foorde the dukes met, and after salutacions done, the duke of Bur-
goyn was conueighed to Caleys, where of the Emperor & of the kyng he was highly
feasted and welcommed. Duryng whiche tyme a peace was concluded betwene the kyng of
England & the duke of Burgoyn for a certain space, cocerning onely the counties of
Flauders and Arthoys, for the whiche cause the Frenche kyng and his sone were highly
displeased. The duke of Gloucester also was receiued at Grauelvng by the earle Charoloys
sonne to the duke of Burgoyne, & by him honorably conueighed to S. Orners & there
lodged that night The 'next day the earle Charoloys came with diuers noblemen to visito
the duke of Gloucester in his lodging, and when he entred into the chambre the dukes backe
, was towarde him, talkyng with some of his seruantes, and did not se nor welcome the earle
Charoloys at the fyrst entrey : but after he sayd to hym shortly without any great reuerence
or comyng towarde him, you be welcome fayre cosyn, and so passed furth his tale with his
seruates. The earle Charoloys for al his youth was not wel content, but suffred for that
tyme.
WHEN the duke of Burgoyn had done al thinges at Caleys that he came for he after the.
ix. day returned to Grauelyng, where the duke of Gloucester and he met againe, and louyngly
departed the one to Caleys and the other to sainct Omers: for the whiche voiage the duke-
of Burgoyn was suspected to be enemy to the croune of Fraunce. After the dukes depart^
yng the Emperor was highly feasted and rewarded, and at his pleasure sailed into Holand,
and so roade into Beame. The kyng likewise toke ship and returned into England on saincl,
Lukes euen, the yere of our Lord M. CCCC. xvij.
U THE FI FT YERE.
. v,
IN this yere the kyng assembled together his high courte of Parliament and there in open
ycre- audience made to them a shorte and pithy Oracion, declaryng vnto them the iniuiies lately.
dooiu. and committed by the Frenche mucion, he shewyng also the iust and laufujl occasion
of his warres, signifiyng furthermore the great discord and ciuile dissencion whiche reigned
amongest the nobilitie of Fraunce, rehersyng many thynges for the whiche it were very ne-
cessary and nedeful to represse & ouercome them withal their power & puissaunce,
that without deferryng or prolongyng of tyme, desiryng the to prouide for money &
treasure
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
treasure out of hand for the conduct & wages of souldiors, to thentent that nothing
should lacke when they shuld be ready to set on their enemies, His causes wer so iust
and liis dcmaudes so reasonable, that he had no soner spoken but it wa,s assented, and
he had no soner demauded but it was graunted. And for to gcue men a courage for to go
furlli, money was fyrst gathered to make prouision for al thinges necessary for such a royal
\oiage: for surely there was no creature whiche with that war was either discotented or dis-
pleased, for it seined to al men no lesse profitable then honorable, nor no lease honorable
then conuenient.
IN this Parliament also Ihonduke of Bedford was made governor or regent of the realme
and head of the publique welth which office he shuld enioy as long as the kyng was makyng
warre on the French nacion. The kyng before he would take his voyage, sent the earle of
Huntyngdon to serche and skoure the seas, least any Frenchmen Hyng in waite for him,
might attrappe him sodenly or he had any knowledge of their settyng forward. This lusty
earle called IhOn Holand, sone to the duke of Excetter behedded at Circiter in the
tviue of Kyng Henry the fourth and cosyn to the kyng with a great nombre of shippes
searched the sea from the one coast to the other. And in conclusion he encoutred with. ix.
great carickes of leane (whiche Lord laques the bastard of Burbon had reteined to serue
the Frenche kyng) & Set on the sharply, the conflict was great £ the fight long, but in
conclusion the Frenchmen wer ouercome and fled, and. iij. of the greatest carickes with their
patrones, and Monsure laques de Burbon their Admiral wer taken with asmuche money
as should haue payed the souldiors of the whole flete for halfe a yere, and. iij. other carickes.
wer bouged and sent to the botome of the sea.
THE kyng hearyng of this good chaunce, about the ende of luly toke his ship at Portes-
mouth, accopanied with the dukes of Clarence and Gloucester brethren to the sayd kyng,
the earles of Huntyngdon, Mershal, Warwike, Deuonshyre, Salisbury, Suftblke and Somer-
set: The Lordcs Kos»e, Wylloughby, Fitzhugh, Clynton, Scrope, Matriuers, Bourchier,
Ferreys of Groby and Ferrers of Chartley, Fanhope, Gray of Codnore, sir Gilbert Vm-
freuile, sir Gilbert Talbot & diuers other and so hauyng wynde and' wether to his desire,
he laded in Normady nere a castle called Touque, wher he cosultcd with, his capitaines
what way was best to be taken cocerning their high enterprise.
THE Normans hearyng of the kynges arriual wer sodenly striken with a deadly feare
and wer almost distracted fro their sences for dred, wher fore like mad men in desperacion.
they ranneout of their houses, tonnes and villages withwiues and children bag and baggage,
into the walled tounes and fortefied garrisons, cariyng with them come, wyne and vitaile
necessary for their sustinance and liuyng, preparyng swordcs, hatchettes, crosbowes and al
other weapons mete to set back and resist their enemies, sent worde to Charles the Frenche
kyng, requirynghim to defend and preserue his louing subiectes.against their cruel and fierse
enemies. The men of warre whiche were left in etiery place to skoure the countrey, went into
walled tounes with the rural c6minaltee,to thentent to aide and assist the tounes men, for well
they knewe that they were not able to resist their enemies beyng abroade in the felde. So were
al the walled tounes and castles in Normandy and May newel furnished with men and vitaile.
The names of the Frecnhe capitaines were totediousto reherse,'and therefore I ouerpasse them.
WHEN kyng Henry had taken counsel, he layde siege to the castle of Touque beyn»
very wel forrefied both with nature and mans arte and began to assault it : & although
thai they within valiantly defended it, yet by fine force he ouercame it, & toke it, and them
within to mercy & made therof capitaines sir Robert Kerkeley knight, and after determi-
ned to besiege the strong toune of Caen, remembryng according to the diitie of a good
capitaine. that the Frcnchemen would come to healp'e their frendes beyng in nede and
extreme necessitie: whiche thyng he most desired & wished. And vpo that purpose
he set furth toward Caen after the warlikest fashion, depopnlatyng the coutrey, & des-
troiyng the villages on euery part as he passed. The toune of Caen standeth in a plaine fer-
tile coutrey, no stronger walled then depe ditched, well vitayled and replenished with people.
For
78 THE. V. YERE OF
For the citizens fearyng the kynges comynghad prouided for all thinges necessary & defen-
sible. And assone as the kyng was come, he cast a dcpe trenche with a high mount to pro-
hibite them within the toune to haue any egresse or outwarde passage : and that done, be-
gan fiersely to assault the toune. But the men of the toune were nothyng abashed and
stode manly to their defence, abidyng all chaunces which might ensue. The tight was fierce
and euery ma toke hecle to his charge. The Englishmen studied all the waies possible to
damage their enemies, some shot arrovves, .some cast stones and other shot gonnes: some
brake the walles with engynes and other vndermined : some set skalyng ladders to the wal, and
other cast in wylde fyre,euery man laboured to come to handstrokes, whiche was their desyre.
On the other side, the Normans threwedoune great stones, barres of yron, dartes hote pitche
and burnyng brimstone and boylyng lead. Diuers daies this assault cotinued, not to the lytle
losse of the Englishmen, whiche toke more harme of the defeders then they gat hurt of the
assailantes. When kyng Henry perceiued that the dice rane not to his purpose, he abstained
from the assault, & determined by vnderminyng to subuert and ouerthrowe the walles and
towers of the toune. Wherfore withal diligence the pyoners cast trenches & the laborers
brought tymber, so that within a fewe daies the walles stode only vpo postes to fal when fyrc
should be put to it. The kyng caused his people to approache the walles and to kepe the citi-
zens occupied, least either theyshuld make acoutremyne or be an impediment to his worke-
inen and laborers. Wherfore he caused thassanlt to be cried againe: then euerye man ranne to
the walles, some with skalyng ladders, some with hokes and some with cordes and plommetes,
euery man desiryngto get vpo the walles and with hand to hand to graple with his enemy: The
citezens man fully defended. While the fight was quicke and fierse on both partes, the English-
men in diuers places perccd and brake through the walles, and diuers ouertures and holes
were made vnder the foundacion by the pyoners, by the whiche thenglishmen might easely
entre into the toune. The kyng hauyng copassion on the tonnes men, desiryng rather to
Imue them saued then destroyed if they wold humbly submyt the selues to his grace, &
fearyng that if the toune by fine force should be spoyled and taken, that he should be
compelled to geue it as a pray to his men of warrc to be sacked and destroyed, sent
them worde by an Herault that yet was tyme of mercy and clemency if they would in-
continently rendre them selues & the toune: But they obstinately hopyng of succour, an-
swered that they would stand at their defence. Then the Englishmen again skaled the
walles and enlerprised to enter through the trenches. The fight was sore by the spaca
of an houre, the Englishmen coragiously enforced to enter, and the Normans manfully
defended, but inconclusion the Englishmen obteined.
WHEN the kyng was possessed of the toune, he incontinently comaunded all barneys
and weapons to be brought into one place, whiche with all diligence was done without any
resistence. Then the miserable people knelyng on their knees, holding vp their handes,
cried mercy, mercy, to whom the kyng gaue certaine comfortable wordes & bad them
stand vp. And then as he was euer accustomed to do, he went on foote to the chief churche
in the toune and rendred to God his most heartie thankes for his prosperous successe
and fortunate chauce. And yet that same night he would not slepe, but comaunded
al his armye to watche in aray, either least his men of warre in the ni^ht tyme mi^ht
fal to spoyle & sacke, or els the citizens fearyng the sequele that might ensue would priuely
steale and conueigh them selues away.
IN the mornyng he called all the magestrates and gouernours into the Senate house
where some for their stony stubbernes and mad obstinacy were adiudged to dye, other were
sore fined and highly raunsomed. Then he callyng together his soufdiors and men of war,
bothe gaue to the high laudes and praises for their manly doyuges, and also distributed to
euery man accordyng to his desert the spoyle & gaine taken of the toune & the tounesmen
chi< fly because at that assault he had tried to his honor their valiant corages and vnfearful
liertes.
IT is to be imagined that kyng Henry in this conflict would principally shewe aswell his,
owne
HENRY THE. V. 79
owne force as the puissance and experience in warres of his nacion, ether to the intent
tlmt the Frenchemen should know that they mette with suche an enemy as both was able to
inuade their countrie and defend their strength & malice, or els not obliuious that in
makyng of warre euery prince muste study to obtain fame and renoune: and as the old
prouerbe saieth, of a thyng well begone, succedeth a prosperous ende and a happy con-
clusion.
ALTHOVGH the toune were wonne, yet the castle whiche was strong and well fortified
bothe with men and all thynges necessary for the defence, was yet in the Frenchmens pos-
session: The capitain where of, to thontent to shewe hyrnself valiant and not willyng to
breake his othe, nether to wauer from his allegeance, bosted that he would rather dye in
the defence then frely yeld the castle. Kyng Henry was not minded to subuert the Castle
(without whiche waie it was not easy to bee wonne) because it was beautit'ull and necessary,
both to kepe the toune fro goyng backe, and also to defend the same when opportunitee
should serue: Whiche Castle if he destroyed, he of very necessitee must again build and
reedifie, or els another in the place. Wherfore he sent worde to the lorde Mountayny
beyng capitain, that if he would yelde the castle by a daie, he should depart without clainmage,
And if he would be foolishe and obstinate, all clemency and fauor should be from hym se_-
questred. When the capitain and his compaignions had well digested his message, beyng in
dispaire of cofort, vpon the condicion offred, rendred the castte and yelded thernselfes.
And so kyng Henry obteigned bothe the toune and castle of Caen.
WHILE the Kyng of England was besiegyng this toune, the Frenchmen had nether a
conuenient hoste to resist their power, nor wer ready or able to releue their frendes in.
this miserable necessite, because thei had such diuision and dissencion emongest them-
selfes, and a good cause why: for kyng Charles was of so small wit by reason of his
sicknes, that he could not rule, and so he was spoyled both of his treasure and of
his kyngdoine, and euery man spente and wasted the common treasure. Charles the
Dolphin being of the age of. xvi. or. xvij. yeres onely lamented and bewailed the ruyne
and decaye of his countrie: He onely studied thaduancement of the comon wealth, and
he onely deuised how to resist his enemies: but hauyng nether inenne nor money, he
was greatly troubled and vnquieted. And in conclusion, by the counsaill of therle of
Armynacke Constable of Fraunce he founde a meane to get all the treasure and riches
whiche quene Isabell his mother had gotten and horded in diuerse secrete places : and
for the comon vtilite of his countrie he spente it wisely in wagyng of souldiors and
preparyng of thinges necessary for the war. The queue forgettyng the great perel that
the realtne then stode in, but reinebryng y displeasure to her by this act dooen, de-
clared her sonne and the Constable to be her mortall enemies, & promised that they
should be persecuted to the vttermoste. And e'uen for very womanly nmlice, she set in
the highest authoritie aboute the kyng her husband, Ihon duke of Burgoyn geuyng hym
the regiment and direccion of the kyng and his real me with all preheminence and soueraintie.
The duke of Burgoyn hauyng now the sworde of authoritie, for the whiche he so sore longed
and glad to be reuenged of his old iniuries, began to make warre on the Dolphyn: and when
he had once tamed and framed to his purpose this young unbrideled gentleman, then he deter-
mined as he might to refell and withstandc the come enemies of the realme. The same or like
reason moued the Dolphin, for he myndyng first to represse and extincte the ciuill dissencion
at home, before he would inuade forain enemies, prepared warre tosubdew and destroy duke
Iho of Burgoyn as the chief bed & leader of that wicked and great mischief: Wherby the
realme was muche vnquieted & more decayed, and in maner brought to a final ruvne and
vtter destruccion. So Fraunce was inflamed and in euery part troubled with warr and
deuision, and yet no man would ether prouide in so great a danger, nor once put furth their
finger to hynder the mischief.
KYNG Henry not myndyng to lye still in Normandy, nor to leaue his enterprice vnper-
formed, sent the duke of Clarence to the sea coast, whiche with great difficulty gate the
toune
80 THE. V. YERE OF
toune of Bayeux. The duke of Glqcestre also with small assault and lesse defence toke the
citee of Liseaux. In the meane ceason Kyng Henry taried still at Cane fortefiyng the
toune and the castle, and put out of the toune. xv. C. women and impotent persons, and
replenished the toune with English people. While the kyng soiourned at Caen, he kepte
there a soletnpne feast and made many knightes, and beside that, he shewed there an ex-
ample of greate pitee & more deuocion. For in searchyng the castle he found there innu-
merable substance of plate and money belongyng to the citezens, wherof he would net
suffre one peny to be touched or conueighed away, but restored the goodes to the owners
and deliuered to euery ma his oAvne. 'When the fame of gettyng of Caen was blowen through
Normandy, the Normans \ver so sore afraied & so muche abasshed that you should not
onely haue seen men, women & children ronnyng in euery waie by great plopes fro toune
to toune, not knowyng whether to flie: but also the rurall persones and huseband men draue
the beastes out of the villages into suche places where thei hoped of refuge or defence: so
that a man would haue thought that Normandy had sodainly been left desolate and voyde
of people and cat ell. But when the rumor was spred abroade of his clemencie shewed to
captiues and of his mercy graunted Ho suche as submitted themselfes to his grace, all the
capitaines of the tounes adioynyng came willingly to his presece, offryng to hym them selfes,
their tounes and their goodes. Wherupon he made proclamacion that all men whiche had
or would become his subiect.es and swere to hym allegeance should enioy their goodes and
liberties in as large or more ample ?«aner then they did before. Which gentle entretein-
yng and fauorable hadlyng of the stubburne Normans, was the very cause why they wer not
only content, but also glad to remoue and turne from the Frenche part and become sub-
iectes to the croune of Englande.
WHEN kyng Henry had set Caen in a good ordre, he left there, for capitaines, the one
of the toune and the other of the Castle, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile erle of Kyne, and sir Gil-
bert Talbot: and made bailife ther sir Ihon Pophane, and so departed fro Caen to Argen-
ton whiche was shortly redred to hym. Then all these tounes folowyng without stroke
striken yelded to hym, in whom he made captames these persons whose names ensue.
At Creuly, sir Henry Tanclux an Almaine.
At Thorigny, sir Ihon Popharn to whom the toune was geue.
At Boyeux, the lorde Matrauerse.
At Argenton, the lorde Grey Codner.
At Chamboy, the lorde Fizghugh, and made him lord of the same.
At Vcmoyle in Perche, sir Ihon Neuell.
At Alfiso the duke of Gloucester & his leuetenat sir Raufe Letal.
At Essay, sir William Hoddelston baylif of Alanson.
At Faloys, sir Henry Fitzhugh.
At Cruly, sir Loys Robset.
At Conde Norean, sir Ihon FastolfFe.
Diuerse tounes likewise yelded to the duke of Clarence wherein he putte these
Capitaynes.
At y cite of Lisieux, sir Iho Kikley. At Fangernon, Ihon saint Albon.
At Cowrton, Ihon Awbyn. At Creuener, sir Ihon Kerby to whom it
At Barney, William Houghton. was geuen.
At Charnbroys, lames Neuell. At Annilliers, Robert Horneby.
At Becheluyn, therle Marshall. At Ragles, sir Ihon Arthure.
At Harecort, Richard W'oduile esquyer. At Fresheney le Vicount, sir Robert Brent.
Likewise diuerse tounes in the country of Constantine wer surrendered to the
duke of Gloucester, where he appoyncted these capitaines.
At Cauenton, the lorde Botraux. At Chiergurg, the lord Grey Codner and
At Seint Clow, Reignold West. after his decease, sir water Hunger-
At Valoignes, Thomas Burgh. ford.
At
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 81
At Pont Done, Dauy Howel. At Hambery the erle of Suftblke, lorde
At the Hay Dupayes, sir Ihon Aston of the same place by gift.
Bayly of Constantine. At Briqueuile, thesaied Erie by gift also.
At Costiices, the lord of Burgainy, At Anranches, sir Philip Halle, Bayly of
At Seint Saluior le Vicount, sir Ihon Alanson.
Robset. At Vire the lorde Matrauers.
At Pontorso, sir Robert Gargrane. At Sainct lames de Bewron, the same
lorde.
WHEN the Kyng of Englande wanne thus in Normandy, his nauy lost nothyng on the
sea, but so skowred the stremes that nether Frencheman nor Briton durst once appere, how-
beit one day there arose so hideous a tempest and so terrible a storme, that nether cable held
nor anker preuailed, so that if the erles of Marche and Huntyngdon had not taken the haue
of Southampto, the whole nauie had perished and the people had been destroyed, and yet
the sauegard was straunge: For in the same hauen two Balyngers and two great Carickes
laden with marchaundise wer drouned, and the broken Maste of another Caricke was
blowen ouer the wall of Hapton (as diuerse writers affirme) such is the power of the wynd,
and suche is the rigonre of the tempest. Whe the fury of the wynd was asswaged and the
sea waxed calme, tlierles of Marche and Huntyngdon passed ouer the sea with all their com-
paignie and landed in Normandy marchyng towarde the kyng, before whom the Normans
fled as fast as the fearfull hare dooth before the gredy Greyhounde, or the sely Partridge
before the Sparowhauke. And so they passed through the countrie destroiyng of villages
and takyng paines till thei came to tiie kyng goyng towarde Roan. Duryng this marciall
feactes and greate conqnestes in Normandy, sir Ihon Oldecastle lord Cobham whiche was
as you haue heard before was conuicted of heresy, and proclaimed a rebell, and vpon the
same outlawed and brake out of the toure, was now as his fortune chauneed apprehended in
the Marches of Wales by the Lorde Powes, and so restored to his olde lodgyng in the toure,
where his kepers loked more narrowly to hym then thei did before. After whiche takyng,
he was drawen from the toure on a hardell to Sainct Gilesfelde, and there hanged in chaynes
and after consumed with fire. Well now leauyng the matters of Englande let vs returne to
the affaires in Normandy.
f THE SIXT YERE.
AFter kyng Henry had thus victoriously obteined so many touhes and so many fortresses The. v-:
from the possession of his enemies, and that his great fame and litle personage was the >cre>
whole terror and feare of the Frenche nacion, he ymagined with hymself that he had no-
thyng doen nor any thyng gotten excepte he brought the famous citee of Roan beyng the
Empery and diademe of the Duchy of Normandy into his possession & dominion, to the
whiche out of euery parte the Normans had conueighed their money lewelles and houshold
stuffe : And whiche citee sithe his firste arriuall thei had not onely walled and fortressed with
many rampiers & strong bulwarkes, but also with valiat capitaines and hardy souldiours to
no small numbre. Wherfore he set forward his army toward the toune called Pontlarche
standyng vpon the Riuer of Seyne. viij. mile from Roan betwene Paris and Roan. When
When the Frenchernen whiche kepte the passage heard of the kynges approchyng, thei gathered
together a great nurnbre of men of war re redy to defend and prohibite the passage, apoint- •
yng another a band of men if thei failed to kepe the farther side of the bridge and to watche
and hourely attend that he nether by bote nor by vessel should eskapc any maner of wave.
When he came to the toune, first he sette forwarde towarde the bridge, whiche when he sa\ve it
so well defended that it would not without greate losse be obteigned, sotlainly he blewe the re-
traite and reculed almoste a myle backward, where in a pleasant place by the riuers side he
pitched his Campe : and in the night season, what with boles and barges, what with howes-
hedes and pipes he conueighed ouer the brode riuer of Seyne a greate compaignie of his
arraie. without any resistaunce of his enemies. For thei whiche wer on the hethersicle of
M Seyne,
82 THE. VI. YERE OF
Seyne, thynkyng that thenglishmen had gone to conquere some other place folowed the not
but studied how to defed their toune (whiche was ynough for them to- do). When the king
saw that his men wer on the qtherside of the water, he the next day earely returned to ihe
toune and assauted it on hothe the sides. When thinhabitantes perceiued that contrary to
their cxpectacio they wer copassed & beset by their enemies and sawe no hope of refuge or
succor, with humble hert and no great ioy rendered vp the toune. And so the kyng hau-
vng no let or impediment determined to besiege and assault the citee and castle of Roan for
the whiche he had taken diuerse long and tedious iornayes, and sent before hym his vncle the
lorde Thomas duke of Excester with a great compaignie of horssemen and Archers, whiche
with banner displayed came before the toune and sent to the capitaines Wyndsore a he-
raulte at armes, wiliyng them to deliuer the toune to the kyng his Master, or els he would
persecute them with fire, bloud and sworde. To who they proudly answered, that none thei
receiued of hym, nor none thei would deliuer, except by fyne force ,thei wer therunto co-
pelled. And to declare theselfes valiant capitaines & hardy men of war, there issued out of
the toune a great band of men of annes & encoutred fiercely with theglish men, whiche
like men nether afraied nor astonied manfully them receiued & with fyne force draue them
into the toune again, leuyng with the Englishmen, xxx. of their compaignie prisoners and
ded persons. The duke with. this good t>pede and proude aunswer of the Frenche capi-
taines, returned to the kyng to whom was rendred alitle before y toune of Louierg, \vhiche
he gaue to his said brother the duke of Clarence, whiche made there his deputie sir Ihou
Godard knight. The duke of Excester also had newly taken the citee of Eureux and made
eapitain ther sir Gilbert Halsall knight. When the duke of Excester was returned to Font-
larchas you haue heard, the capitaines of Roan set fire on the suburbes, bet doune Churches,
cut doune trees, shrede the busshes, destroyed the vines round about the citee, to thentent
that thenglishmen should haue no relief nor comfort ether of lodgyng or fewell.
Thecitee of WHEN the kyng heard of their dispitefull doynges, he with his whole army remoued from
Roan b< e- pont]arcnC} anci t[ie ]ast <jaje of juiy came before the citee of Roan and compassed it rounde
aboute with a strong siege and a fearfull assaute. The king laie with a greate puissaunce
at the hous of Charitee on the East side of the citee, & the duke of Clarence lodged before
the port of Caux on the West part of the citee. The duke of Excester toke his place on
the Northside at the porte Denise : betwene the dukes of Excester and Clarence was ap-
poyncted the erle Marshall euen before the gate of the castle, to whom wer ioyned therle of
Ormond and the Lordes of Haryngton and Talbot. And from the duke of Excester toward
the kyng were encamped the lordes of Rosse, Willoughby, Fitzhugh and sir William Porter
with a great band of Northrenme euen before the port saint Hillarij. Therks of Mortaint
and Salsbery wer assigned about the abbey of saint Katherines. Sir Ihon Grey was lodged
directly against the Chapel called Mount. S. Mighell, sir Philip Leche treasorer of the
warres kept the hil next the Abbey, & the Baron of Carew kept the passage on the riucr
of Sayne, and to hym was ioyned a valiaunt esquire called lenico, whiche twoo capitaines
valiauntly kept the riuage of the water of Sayne. On the fartherside of the riuer wer lodged
therles of Warren and Huntyngdon, the lordes Neuell and Ferrers, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile
with a well furnished company of warlik souldiors directly before the gate called port du
Pont. And to the intent that no aide should passe by the riuer toward the citee, a greate
chaine of yron was deuised at Potlarche and sette on piles from the one side of the water to
the other, and beside that chayne he set vp a new forced bridge, sufficient bothe for cariage
and passage. At whiche therle of Warwicke whiche had gotten Dampfrot was sent to the toune
of Cawdebeck standyng on the riucrside betwen the sea and the citee of Roan, whiche toune
he so hardly assaulted, that the capitaines offerd to surrre the Englishe nauy to passe by
their toune without hurte or detriment to the citee of Roan: And also if Roan yelded,
they promised to rendre their toune without any fayle or farther delaie. And this composi-
cion they sealed, and for performaunce of ihe same thei deliuered pledges. This appoynct-
tnent the Englishe nauy to the numbre of. C. sailes passed by Cawdebeck and came be-
ti fore
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 83
fqre Roan and besieged it on the water side. To this siege came the duke of Gloucester
with therle of Suliblke and the lor'de of Burgainy whiche had taken the toune of Chierburgh
and \ver lodged before tho porte of Sainct Hillarij nerer their enemies by fortie roddes then
any other j er^ones of the annie.
DVRYNG this siege arriued at Harflew the lord of Kylmaine in Ireland with a band of
xvi. liundreth Iieshrnen armed in uiayle with dartes and skaynes after the tnaner of their
countrey, all talle, quickc and deliuer persons; which came and presented them selues be-
fore the kyng liyng styl at the siege : of whom they were not onely geoitely entertained, but
also (because that the kyng was informed that the Frenche kyng and tlie duke of Burgojn
would shortly come, and either rayse the siege or vitaile or ma the toune at the North gate)
thei wer appointed to kepe the Northsyde of the army, and in especial the way that cometh
from the forest of Lyons. Whiche charge the lord of Kylmaine &, his company ioyfully
accepted & did so their deuoyre, that no men wer more praised nor did more damage to
their enemies then they did for surely their quickncs and swiftnes did more prejudice to
their enemies, then their great barded horses did hurt or damage the nimble Irishmen.
THVS was the fay re cytie of Roan compassed about with enemies besieged by princes,
and beset about both by water and laude, hauyng neither comfort nor aide of kyng nor dol-
phyn. And although the army were strong without, yet within there lacked neither hardy
capitaynes nor manful souldiors. And as for people, they had more then ynowe, for as it
was written by him that knew the nombre and had no occasio to erre from the trueth, there
were at the time of the siege within thedtie, of christen people CC. and ten thousand per-
sons. Dayly wer issues made out of the cytie at diuers portes, sometyme thenglishmen gat,
at another time the Frenchmen saued, somtyme neither of both either got or saucd : for
surely the capitaines and men of warre within the toune settyng more by honor then by life,
preferryng fame before worldly riches, dispisyng pleasure & vilependyng fearfull heartes,
svvare eclie to other netier to render or deliuer the toune while they mighteither hold sworde
in hand or putsnerein rest. The kyng of England beyng aduertised of their haute coura-
ges and high stomackes, determined to co.nqnere them by famyne whiche would not be ta-
med by weapon. Wherfore he'stopped all the passages both by water and land that no
vitaile could be coueighed to the cytie, he cast trenches rounde about the wallcs and set
them ful of stakes and defended the with archers, so that they within could haue no way out
ether to inuade their enemies (or if they could) to depart and relinquishe their fortresse
and cytie. One day tidynsres wer tayned that the Frenche kyng approched with al his power
to raise the siege & reskew the cytie : Wherfore kyng Uery comaunded al men to lye in
their barneys lest they might by some subtile cautel be surprised vmvare and taken vnproui-
ded. But the Freche kyng neither came nor sent, to the great wonder of thenglishmen.
This siege thus continuyrig from Lammas almost to Christmas, diuers enterprises were at-
tempted and diuers polices were deuised how euery part might dau age and hurte his aduer-
sary and enemy, but no part mnche reioysed of their gaine. Duryng whiche tvme, vitayle
began sore to faile within the toune, so that only vinegsr & water serued for drinke. If 1
should rehcrse accordyng to the writyng of diuers authors, not onely howe deare dogges,
rattes, myse and cattes wer solde within the toune: but how gredely they were by the poore
' people eaten and deuoured, and also howe the people died" day ly for faute of foode, and
how yong infates lay suckyng in the stretes on their mothers brestes liyng dead, staruen for
hunger, you would more abhorre the lothsome doyuges then reioyse at their miserable mis-
chrice. The riche men within the toune put out at the gates the pore and indigent crea-
tures whiehe were by thenglishmen that kept the trenches beaten & driuen backe againe
to, the gates of the toune, whiche against them were closed and barred. So this miserable
people vncomfortably forsaken & vnnaturally despised of their owne nacion and hous-
holde felowes, betwene the walles of their cytie and the treches of their enemies lay styl
ciiyng for helpe and n-lief, for lacke wherof innumerahle scly solles dayly died and
hourely starued. Yet kyng Henry nioued with pitie & stirred with copassion in the honor
of
THE. VI. YERE OF
of Christes natiuitie on Christmas day refreshed all the poorc people with vitayle to their
great comfort & relief: for the whiche act they not only thanked, lauded and praised the
kyng of England, but also praied to God for his preseruacion and furtherance, and for the
hynderance and euil successe of their vnkynd citezens & vncharitable country men. Tins
miserable famyne dayly more and more encreasyng so daunted the heartes of the bold ca-
pitaynes, & so abated the courages of the riche burgesses, and so turmeted the bodies of
the poore citezens, that the stout souldiour for fai nines could skase welde his weapon, nor
the riche tnarchaunt for money could not bye a sheuer of bread : so that the cominaltie
cried to the captaines, and the nedy people besought the lorcles to haue compassion on them,
and to inuent some way for their succor and comfort. The gouernours of the tonne, after
long consultacion had, consideryng the great necessitie that they were in, and seyng none
apparence of succour or relief, determined it both necessary and conuenient to treate with
the kyng of England. And so vpo Newyeres euen ther came to the walles at the gate of
the bridge diuers comissioners appoincted by the capitaines, whiche made a signe to the
englishemen liyng without to speake with some gentleman or other person of authorise.
The earle of Huntingdon whiche kept that part sent to them sir Gilbert Vmfrcuilc, to who
they declared that if they might haue a guvde or a safcconduite they would gladly speake
with the kyng. Syr Gilbert promised not onely to do theyr message, but also to cerlifie
the of the kinges pleasure & purpose. Whiche comunicacion ended, he repaired to the
duke of Clarence and other of the kynges counsail, adnertisyng the of the request of the
citezens, whiche incStinent assembled theselucs in the kynges lodgyng, where sir Gilbert
Vmfreuile wysely and soberly declared to the kyng the myndes and intentes of the citezens.
The kyng like a graue prince consideryng that a thyng gotten without effusion of Christen
blond is both honorable and profitable, and sawe that the haute corages of the braggyng
Frenchmen wer now by his hard besiegyng sore abated and almost tamed, thought it con-
uenient to hcare their lowly peticion and humble request and so willed sir Gilbert to ad-
uertise them that he was content to heare. xii. of them whiche should be safely coueighed
to his presence : With this answere sir Gilbert departed and made relacion therof to the
capitaynes standyng at the gate. Whiche on the next day in the rnornyng appointed, iiii.
knightes. iiii. lerned men and. iiii. sage burgesses al clothed in blacke to go to the kyng of
Englad. These, xii. persons were receiued at the port sainct Hillarij by sir Gilbert Vmfreuile
accompanied with diuers gentlemen and yomen of the kynges houshold, comonly called
yomcn of the croune, and conueighed to the kynges lodgyng, who they found at Masse.
When the deuine seruice was finished king Henry gorgeously apparelled and sumpteously
adourned came out of his trauers, fiersely and princely beholdyng the Frenche messegers
and passed by them into his chambre. After him incontinently the. xii. ambassadours wer
conueighed, amongest who one learned in the ciuile law, more arrogant then learned & yet
not so arrogant as vndiscrete sayd these wordes. Right high and mightie prince, right
noble and puissant kyng, if you wyl with your selfe diligently cdsider wherein consisteth the
glory of victorye and the triumph of a conquerour, you shall plainly perceiue, that the
type of honor is in the tamyng of proud men, ouercomyng of valiant sou-ldiors and subdu~
yng of strong cyties and popnlus regions, and not in slaiyng christen people by hunger thirst
and famine, in whiche consisteth neither manhod, wit nor policy. Alas, regard you your
honor, and se yonder great multitude of miserable people criyng for meat and wepyng for
drinke and diyng for lacke of succour and relief. What glory shall you obtayne in killyng
of wretches by famyne, whiche death of all deathes is most to be despised and abhorred.
If you wyl shew your selfe charitable before God, or merciful before men, let al our poore
people whiche wyl depart out of our cytie passe through your campe to get their liuyng in
other places, and then manfully assaut our cytie, & by force (if you dare) subdue and con-
quere it. And if your enterprise succede fortunately (as a thing that is very doubtful) in
this doyng you shall not onely obtaine worldly glory and terrestrial victory for ouercommyng
the strong and puissant men of armes and the riche eytie, but also merite much before God
for
KVNG HENRY THE. V. 85
for deliueryng and hauyng compassion of the poore ucdy and indigent persons. , When this
Orator had sayd, the kyng, whiche no request lesse suspected then that whiche was thus
desired, began a while to muse: And when he had wel perceiued the crafty cautel and
fraudulent inuencion of the 1'renche messengers, he with a fierse countenance and a hold
spirit made to them this answer saiyng : Thynke you O fatastical Frenchmen that I am so
ignorant and so brutal that I cannot perceiue your double dealyng and crafty conueigh-
haunce : ludgc you me so simple that I know not wherin the glory of a coqueror cdsisteth.
Esteme you me so ignoraunt that I perceiue not what craftes and warlike pollices by strong
enemies are to be subdued and brought to subiection : yes, yes, I am not so loiteryng a Iruand
as to forgette so good a lesson. And if these thynges be to you blynd and obscure I wyl
declare and open them to you. The goddesse of warre called Edlona (whiche is the cor-
• 1 -111 •••! JL 1 i' /"• J r ' 1
rectnce of princes for right witholdyng or imurie doyng, and the plage or uod tor euil
liuyng and vntrue demeanor amongest subiectes) hath these, iii. handmaides euer of neces-
sitie attendyng on her, bloud, fyre, and famine, whiche thre damosels be of that force &
strength that euery one of them alone is able and sufficient to turrnent and afflict a proud
prince : and they all ioyned together are of puissance to destroy the most populous coun-
trey and most richest region of the world. If I by assaultyng of your toune should seke
your bloud (although I gained as I doubt not but I should) yet my gaine wer not cleare
without some losse of my people. If I set your cytie on fyre, and so consume it and you
also, then haue I lost that precious iewel for the whiche I haue so sore longed and so long
laboured. Therfore to saue myne owne people (which is onepoinct of glory in a capitaine)
and to preserue the toune whiche is my lauful and iust inheritaunce : And to saue as many
of you as wil not willyngly be destroied, I haue appointed the mekest maide of the thre
damosels to afflict and plage you tyll you be bridled and brought to reason, which shalbe
when it shal please me and not at your appointment : And therfore I say and affirme that
the gayne of a capitaine by any of these thre handmaides is bothe glorious, honorable and
triumphant, but of all thre the yongest maide is in all thinges most profitable and comodious.
Now to answer to your demaundes, as touching the pore people Hyng in the ditches, I as-
sure you I more lament your lacke of chantie toward your christen brethre ye and your owne
nacion of one language and one countrey, then I reioyce at the vndoyng of so many crea-
tures and castyng away of so many enemies. You like tirantes put the out of the toune to
thentent that I should slay them, and yet I haue saued their Hues. You would neither geue
them meat nor drinke, and yet I beyng their mortal enemy haue succoured and releued
them : so that if any vncharitie be, it is in you, if any shame or reproche be taken, receiue
it your selfe, for you be the doers. If I haue done them good let God rewarde me, for I
loke of them no thankes, if you haue done them cuil so shal you be done to. And as to
suffre your pore people to passe out of the cytie through my campe, no, no, I wyll not
so accomplishe your cloked request, but you shall kepe them styl to helpe to spend your
vitailes : And as to assault your toune, I wil you know it that I am therto both able and
willyng as I se tyme & occasion : but seyng the choice is in my hand to tame you either with
bloud, fyre, or famyne, or with all, I wyl take the choice at my pleasure & not at yours.
And with that the kyng with a frownyng countenaunce departed fro them to his chambre
and comaunded them to dine with his officers.
WHEN he was departed, the Frenchmen began to marueil at his excellent wit, and to
muse at the hautnes of his courage, and after they had dined and consulted together, they
required once againe to haue accesse to his royal presence, whiche when it was to them
grauted, they humblyng them selues on their knees besought him to take a truce for. viii.
daies, in the whiche they might by their commissioners take some ende and good conclusion
with him and his counsail. The kyng like a piteous prince rather couetyng the preseruacion
of the people, then their destruction, after good deliberation taken, grauted to them their
askyng, with the whiche answere they ioyously returned,
AFTER their departure were appointed and set vp. iii. riche tentes, the one for the lordes
of
85 THE. VI. YERE OF
of England to consult together, the second for the commissioners of the cytie, and y third
for both partes to argue and debate the matter. The cdtnissitiners for the Englishe part wer
the erles of Warwike & Salsbury, the lord Fitzhugh, sir water Hungerford, sir Gilbert Vra-
freuiie, sir Ihon Robsert & Ihon de Vasques de Almada. And for the French part wer ap-
pointed sir Guy de Butteler &. vi. other.
DVHYNG this truce, euery day the comissioners met, the Englishmen accused, and
the Frenchmen excused, the Englishmen demaunded muche, and the Frenchmen profered
lytle. Thus with arguyng & reasonyng the. viiii. day came and notliyng was done, nor one
article concluded. Wherfore the Englishmen toke doune the tentes & the Frenchmen toke
their leaue, but at their departyng, they remembryng them selues required the Englishe
lordes for the loue of God that the truce might continue tyl the sunne risyng the next day,
to the whiche the lordes sone assented. When the Frenchmen wer returned to Roan, so*-
denly in al the tonne sprong a rumour that the truce was expired and nothyng determined.
Then the poore people ranne about the stretes like frantike persons, shoutyngand criyng
and callyng the captaines and gouernors murtherers and manquellers, saiyng that for their
pride & stytfe stomacke al this misery was happened in the toune, threatenyng to slay them
if they would not agre to the kyng of Engludes demaund and request. The Magistrates
beyng amased with the fury of the people, called al the toune together to knowe their
myndes and opinions. The whole voice of the comons was to yeld,' yeld, rather than
starue. Then the Frenchmen in the euenyng came to the tent of sir Ihon Robsert, requi-
ryng him of getlenes to moue the kyng that the truce might be prolonged for. iiii. daies.
The kyng therunto agreed and appointed tharchbishop of Canterbury and the other.' vu.
before named for his part, and the citezens appoincted an egal nomber for them. So the
tentes were againe set vp, dayly was assembles and muche treaty on both parties, and oa
the fourth day by the helpe of God, the treaty was concluded and finished to the great re-
ioysyng of the poore citezens, the copy wherof foloweth worde by worde.
^f The appointmentes of the yeldyng vp of the cytie and castle of Roan.
1 FIRST it is accorded that Guy de Botellier capitaine of the Cytie and castle of Roan with
the consent of the noble citezens & other dwellyng and beyng in the sayd cytie and castell
shall yelde and deliuer into the handes of the ful excellent kyng of England or other what
so he be by him deputed, the cytie & castle aboue sayd without fraude or male engine, what
tyme after the middes of the. xix. day of this present moneth of January our sayd lord
the kyng wyllthe cytie and thecastel to be deliuered vnder maner and forrne within written.
2 ALSO it is accorded that the day £ houre the sayd nobles and citezens & other what so
they be dwellyng & beyng in the sayd cytie & castel shal submit them in al thinges to the
grace of our sayd lorde the kyng.
3 ALSO it is accorded that from this houre vnto real £ effectual yeldyng of the sayd cytk;
& castle, none of the sayd nobles or other beyng in the sayd cytie or castle shal not go out
of the foresayd cytie and castle without special grace of our sayd lord the kyng.
4 ALSO it is accorded that from this houre vnto the deliuerance of the cytie, euery of the
parties shall abstaine from all deedes of warre to make againe that other partie of them.
5 ALSO it is accorded that the foresayd nobles, citezens and other beyng in the sayd cytie
& castle shall pay to our foresayd lorde the kyng CCC. thousand scutes of golde, wherof
alwayes two shalbe worth an Englishe noble, or in the stead of euery scute, xxx. great
blaukes whyte or. xv. grotes. Of whiche. CCC. thousand scutes, the one halfe shalbe
payde to our sayd lord the kyng or to his deputies within the cytie of Roan beforesayd the.
xxii. day of this present moneth of January, and that other halfe shalbe paide to our sayd
lord the kyng or to his deputies in the feast of saint Mathew the Apostle next comyng that
shalbe the. xxiiii. day of February next, without any viler delay.
6 ALSO it is accorded that all and euery horse, harneys, armures, artileries for shot and all
other habilimentes of warre longyng to souldiors or other straungers beyng in the sayd cytie
and
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 87
and castle, shalbe put together by them in two houses by our sayd lord the kyng to be as-
signed, & they shalbe deliuered by the capitaine of the sayd cytie to our forsayd lord the
kyng after the niiddes of the. xix. day of January therupon to be required.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery armour, artilleries and all habiliinentes of war of 7
the sayd castle shalbe put together in one house within the same castle, and they shulbe de-
liuered to oure sayd lorde the kyng or to his deputies in that partie, the day that the same
castle shalbe fallen to be deliuered to our sayd lord the kyng.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery armures, artilleries & other habilimentes of warre 8
of thesaid citee or of al maner of citezcns arid of ul other dwellyng therin, by them shalbe
brought aud put together in one hous or mo houses there by theim to be deliuered to our
Lord the kyng, & by the capitain of the same citee shalbe deliuered to our forsaid Lorde
the kyng or to his deputie in what tyme the said capitain by the partie of our moste doubt-
full lorde the kyng, after the middaie of this present moneth of Januarij thervpon be requi-
red, out take the armuries that belong to Marchauntes which were wont for to sell theim.
ceassyng fraude and maleengine. And if it befal any marchauntes any suche armures that
be not theirs, vnder colour of theirs to colouren or hide in any maner, tho armures so hid
and coloured and al other what that thei been that diden, to our Lorde the kyng shal been
forfeted, and the body of thesame marchannt to been punished at the kynges will.
ALSO it is accorded that in no maner shalbe made, brennyng, hynderyng, harmyng or 9
appairyng, wastyng or destroiyng of horsse, of armures, of artilleries or of any other ha-
bilamentes of warre within the forsaied citee and Castle beyng, but that all and euery with-
out frau'de or maleengiue shalbee kept whole and vnhurt to our Lorde the kyng as it is be-
foresaied to be deliuered.
ALSO it is accorded that al & euery chayne that wer wont to be layed ouerthwart the 10
stretes and lanes of thesaid citee, shall bee put into an hous to be turned to the profile of the
citezens of ^thesame citee.
ALSO it is accorded that our forsaid lord the king shal haue place and space of lande, 11
of the frewil of his highnesse to bee chosen to hym a paleis to be made within thesaied citee
or within the walles of the same citee where it shal seme moste behouefull. So neuerthelesse
that if it fall within thesaid place or space to be included any hous or edifice or place of
ground longyng to any of thesaied citezens or dwellers of thesame citee, or saied lorde the
kyng to hym whom that suche maner of houses, edifices or places of ground longeth or ap-
perteineth shal satisfie, & of other houses & edifices or places congruely shal recopence.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery subiectes of our said lard the kyng that now be or 13
wer prisoners to any persone beyng in the said cite or castle and their pledges, shalbee vtterly
free as aneyntz their persones and the somes that thei are bounde in at the dale of this pre-
sente date and accorde.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery souldier and strager beyng in thesaid citee and 13
castle shall swere on the Euangeliesof God before their departyng, that thei shall not beare
armes against our lorde the kyng or his, vntothe first daie of lanuarij next to come, for no
maner of coinmaundemet that to them or to any of them of any maner of persone in contra-
ry maie be doen and enioyned.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery reliques & other goodes longyng to the Abby of 14
sainct Katheryn within thesaied citee and castle beyng all holy, shalbeen deliuered to hym
whom the kyng shall depute them to receiue the deliuerance of thesaid citee.
ALSO it is accorded that the forsaid nobles, citezes & other within thesaid citee and 15
Castle beyng, shall cause thesame citee and Castle before thesaied. xix. daie of this pre-
sent moneth of lanuarij sufficiently and honestly to be made cleane, and also diligently and
honestly all the ded bodies now ded and to be ded vnto that daie of deliuerance of the said
citee honestly and diligently shall do to be buried.
ALSO it is accorded that the forsaid nobles citizens & all beyng in thesaid citee and castte ]Q
furthwith shall receiue and suftre to entre into thesame citee all and euery poore persone be-
88
THE. VI. YERE OF
yng in the cliches or aboute the diches of thesame cite, whiche for penury did go out of
thesame cite whom they shalbee bounde to succor vnto the. xix. daieof lanuarij aboue saied,
as they will aunswere to God and to the kyng, and els thei shall receiue none other person
into thesame citee or castle vnto the forsaied day without speciall licence of our saied
Lorde the kyng, but if it happe any messenger or herauld of the party aduersary of the
kyng to come to the gates or diches of thesaied castle or citee.
17. WHICHE articles and apointmetes as it is beforsaid, all & euery in maner as it is accord-
ed, the forsaied capitain, nobles, citezes & other within thesaied castle and citee beyng,
wel and truly without fraude or malengine to hold, obserue and kepe they behoten, and tho
to be kept & fulfilled they bynden them. So but if it befall our forsaid moste doubtfull
lorde the kyng that God forbid, to be ouercome in battaill to hym ymade by Charles his ad-
nersary of Fraunce or the duke of Burgoyn or any other to come, the siege of our lord the
kyng to remoue from the forsaid citee, that neither theforsaid capitain ne none of the no-
bles, citezens, souldiors or other beyng within tiieforsaid cite and Castle shall gone out, ne
no maner help thei shal deliuer, nor leane to them so again our lorde the kyng commyng in
no maner wise.
W' ALSO that all these appoyntmentes, couenauntes and accordes and euery of theim as it
is beforsaied well and truly and vnbroken bee kepte, and for the more suretie of thesame
couenauntes and accordes, theforsaid capitain nobles and citezens and other abouesaid shalbe
taken at the tyme ymediatly into the handes of our lorde the kyng. Ixxx. notable pledges
wherof. xx. shalbe knightes and esquires and the remnant citezens of thesame citee, at their
owne costes to be sustained.
19. ALSO for the partie sothly of our moste doubtfull lorde the Kyng aforsaid, graciously
and beningly cosidryng the meke submittyng and yeldyng of the same citee and Castle
abouesaid, hath graunted that all and euery person of what estate or .degree or condicion
that he be with in thesaid citee and Castle being, except certain persons within expressed
that will become lieges and subiectes of our lord the kyng, and fro hencefurth will dwell
ynder his obedience, shall haue their heritages and goodes, moueables and vnmouables
within the dutchy of Normandy constitute, and whiche before the date of these present let-
ters by our forsaid lord the kyng to other persons haue not been graunted, except ar-
murs & artillaries abouesaied, making and doing for their heritages and their vnmouable
goodes to our forsaied lorde the kyng the seruice therof accustomed, or to other to whom
suche maner seruices of the graunt of our lorde the kyng owen to long.
20. ALSO it is graunted on our lorde the kynges behalfe that all the citezens and dwellers of
the citee of Roau that now been or in tyme to come shall been, shall haue all and euery
franchises, liberties and priuileges which of worthy mynd the progenitors of our lorde the
the kyng kynges of Englande £ dukes of Normandy, to the and to the said citee were graunt-
ed in possession wherof they weren the first day that our forsaid lorde the kyng came before
theforsaid citee. And also of our large grace of his benygnitie hath graunted, that the self
citezens and dwellers of the citee shall haue al their liberties fraunchises and priuileges
wherof they wcr in possession- theforsaid first daie of the comyng of our lorde the kyng be-
fore the citee, of the graunt of any of his progenitors kynges of Fraunce whiche were be-
fore the tyme of Philip de Valoys aduersary to our said lorde the kyng & daily warryng vpo
his real me.
21. ALSO it is graunted and accorded on our lorde the kynges behalf that all the straungiers
souldiours and other in theforsaied citee and castle beyng at this tyme, not willyng to be-
come lieges of our lord the kyng, theforsaied citee and castle so yeldyng as it is beforsaid,
frely to departen, leauyng to our saied lord the kyng all their armures, horsse artillaries
and other thynges and harneis and goodes, except the Normans will not be lieges of our
lorde the kyng, whiche all & euery shall abide prisoners to our lorde the kyng, and except
Luca Italico, which also shalbe prisoner of our lorde the kyng, and also other whose names
be not set in this boke, for it longeth not to clerkes to intermete of the.
4 ALSO
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 89
ALSO it is graunted on our lord the kynges' behalf that the warreand also shrewed speches 22.
that duryng this siege the folke aboue mencioned of what condicion that they been against
his royall person haue done, or with defamed lippes haue spoken against our niostc derest
lorde the kyng, cosidrryng the daie of pitie mekely shalbe forgeuen, out take the prisoners
that abouen in speciall be excepted.
ALSO it is accorded on our lorde the kynges b^halfe teat theforsaied souldiors and 33.
straungers by the forme of this present treatie and accorde willyng for to departen, our
Lorde the kyng shall ordain and make a saueconduite in forme accustomed.
If And so theforsaied citee was yelden to our souereigne lorde the kyng vpon s. Wolstanes
daie beyng the. xix. daie of lanuarij. and then afterward he gat many strong tounes and
Castles, as Depe, Caudebec, Torney & many mo as it shalbe after written.
WHEN the daie of apoinclment came, which was the daie of. S Wolston, sir Guy de
Butteler and the Burgesses of the toune in good ordre came to the kynges iodgyng, and
there deliuered to hym the keyes of the citee and castle, besechyng hym of fauor and co-
passion. The kyng incontinent appoyncted the duke of Excester with agreate compaignie
to take possession of the toune, whiche like a valiauntcapitain mounted on a goodly courser
and entred into the toune and so into the castle, and appoyncted watche and ward in euery
toure, bulwarke and fortresse, and garnished the walles with banners, slanders and penos
o£ the kynges armes, badges and deuises. The nexte daie bcyng Frydaie the kyng in greate
triumphe like a conqueror, accopaignied with iiii. Dukes, x. Erles. viii. Bishoppes, xvi.
Barones and a greate multitude of knightes, esquires and men of warre entred into Roan
where he was reeeiued by the Clergie with. xlii. Crosses which sang diuerse swete soges,
outwardly reioysyng whatsouer inwardly they thought. Then met him the Senate and the
burgesses of the toune, offeryng to hym diuerse faire & costly presentes. In this rnaner he
passed through the citee to our Lady Churche, where with al solempnitie he was reeeiued
by the bishop and Cannons, and after he had said his Orisons, he caused his chapelaynes
to syng this Antheme Quis est magnus dominus. Who is so greate a Lorde as is our God.
&c. And that done he came to the Castle where he continued a good space after, receiuyng
homages and fealties of the burgesses and tounes men, settyng ordres emogest them and
reedefied diuerse fortresses and toures. Duryng which time he made proclamacion that all
men whiche would become his subiectes should enioye their goodes, landes and offices,
•whiche proclamacion caused many tounes to yeld, and many men become English. At
whiche ceason the duke of Britain seyng that the power of Fraunce began to decaye, came
to the kyng to Roan and concluded with hym a league of his owne mere mocion : Fearyng
that ether he should afterward be compelled therunto, or els if he offred to late it would
not be accepted.
WHEN the renderyng of Roan was blowen through Normandy and the kynges procla-
macion diuulged through the countrie, it is in maner incredible to heare how many tounes
yelded not once desired, and how many fortresses gaue vp without contradicion, wherof I
wil shewe you a small nombre and the names of theim who were appoyncted capitaines of
thesame.
AT Caudebec, sir Loys Robsert. late capitain of Roan, and by the kyng
At Depe, William lorde Burcher «rle of lorde of the same.
Ewe. At Danuile, sir Christopher Boirrden.
At Ewe, thesame erle. At Couches, sir Robert Marbury.
At Aubemerle, therle of Warwick and his At Chierburgh, sir Iho Geddyng.
deputie there sir Willia Mountford. At Bacquiuile, the lord Rosse, lord therof
At Bell Encomber, Sir Thomas Ramp- by gift.
ston lorde by gift. At Gaylard, the same lorde.
At Logeuile, the capitain of Beffe erle At Dangew, Richarde Wooduile.
therof by gift. At Arques, sir lames Fines bayly of
At the Roche Guyon, sir Guy Butteler Caux.
N At
90 THE. VIL YERE OP
Ar Newcastle, sir Philip Leche. At Boncouilliers, Ihon Aburgh Baylife
At Monceaux, the same sir Philip. of Gysors.
At Gourney, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile. At Vernon, sir William Porter.
At Estripagny, Richard Abraham esquire. At Melans, sir Thomas Rampso after hym.
At Senctere Surgette, Willyam Basset. sir Ihon Fastolfte.
At Nanffle, therle of Worcester,.. At Homftewe, therle of Salsbury and af-
At Gysors, the said erle. ter the duke of Clarence by gift.
j\.t Maunt, therle of Marche. At Brctnell, sir Henry Mortimer baylife
of Homflew.
If I should here reherse what tounes wer conquered, what fortresses were yelded, and
who wer made capitaines of thesame, this Pamphlet would turne to a volume more tedious,
then pleasaunt, and therfore I ouer passyng small names and muche doyugr will returne
again to the principall thynges touchyng-.the sequele of this historye. And who so desireth;
to know all the circumstances of the deliuery, lette hym ouerloke tlie Fnenche. writers,,
whiche to aduoyde shame confesse and write the veritee.
f THE SEUENTH YERE.
.p^ >TiL WHEN the gettyng.of Roan and the deliuery of.theother townes wer- biased and blowen.
y«e. through the whole realme of- Fraunce, wonder it is to tell and more to beleue howe the.
hertes of the Frenchmen wer sodainly heuy and their courages-sone coled, mournyng and
lamentyng the iminent mischief whiche they sawe by the diuision of the nobilitee like,
shortely to fal on their heddes : and the more sorowyng their euil chance because they sawe
no remedy prepared, nor yet none help at hand thought on. But whosoeuer kicked or
wynched at this matter, Ihon duke of Burgoyn raged and swelled, ye and so muche freated
that he wist not what to saie and lesse to dooe : And no meruaill, for he was vexed and
troubled with a doble disease atone onJv tvme. For he only ruled both kyng Charles and
his, and did all thynges at his will whether reason agreed or no, and for that cause heknewe
that IMJ was neither free from disdain nor yet deliuered from the scope of malice.. And ther-
fore he imagined that ail mischiefes and calamities whiche chaunced in the common- wealth
should be imputed and assigned to his vnpolitike doyng or to his negligent permission :
wherfore he vmagined it profitable to the realme and to hyiaself moste auaylable, if he by
any meanes possible cquld deui.-e, practise or inuent any waie or meane by the which he
might reconcile and ibyne in amitee the two great and mightie kynges of Englande and of
Fraunce. Whiche thyng once obUMgned and beyng dtliuered from all feare of exterior hos-
tilitee, he determined first to reuenge his quarell against Charles the Dolphyn, and after to
represse all causes of grudge or disdain, and. to recouer again both the fauor of the com-
monaltee and also to put a\vaie all causes oi' suspicion or imagined infamy against hym and
his procedynges. And intf-dyng to buyld v.pon this fraile foundacion, sent letters and Am-
bassadors to the kyng of Englande, aduertisyng hym that if he would personally come to a
coimnunicacion to bee had betwene hym and Charles the Frenche kyng, he doubted not
but by his onely meanes, peace should be induced and blouddy battaill clerely exiled.
KYNG Henry heard gentely the Ambassadors and agreed to their request and desire,
and so came to Maunte, where at the feast of Pentecost he kept a liberall hous to all com-
mers, and sat hymself in greate estate. On which daie ether for good seruice before by
them done, or for good expectacionof thynges to come, he created Gascon de Foys a va-
liaunt Gascoyn erle of Longeuile, and sir Ihon Grey was likewise made erle of Tankeruile,
and the Lorde Bui shier Erie of Ewe. After this solempne feast ended, the place of the en-
teruieue and metyng was apoynted to be beside Meiaus on the riuer of Seyne,, in a faire
playne euery pane was by comissioners appoyncted to their grounde. The Frenchmen
diched, trenched, and paled their lodgynges for feare of afterclappes : But the Englishmen
had their parte only barred and ported. The kyng of Englande had a large teat of blewe
veluet
KYXG HENRY THE. V.
veluet and grene richely cmbrodered with two deuises, the one was an Antlop drawyng in an
horse mill, the othar was an Antlop sittyng in an high stage with a braunche of Olife in his
roouthe: And the ten te was replenished and decked with this poysie. After lusie labours
commetfi victorious reste, and on the top and heigth of thesame was set a greate Egle of
goldc, whose ives were of suche orient Diamondes that tliey glistered and shone ouer the
whole felde.
THE Frenche-kyng likewise had in his parke a faire pauilion of blew veluet richely
embrodered with flower deluse, on the toppe of the same was set a white Harte flivng,
made all of fyne siluer with winges enameled. Betwene tliese two Campes or enclosers was
apoynted a -tent- of purple veluet for the coiisailers to mete in and euery part had an egall
nombre to watch on the night and to se good ordre on the day.
WHEN the day of appoinctment approched, the kyng of England accompaignied with
the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester his brethren, and the duke of Excester his vncle, and
Henry Beauford Clerke his other vncle which after was bishop of Winchester and Cardinall
and the carles of Marche, Salisbury and other to the numbre of a thousand men of warre,
entered into his parke and toke his lodging. Likewise for the Frenche part, thcther came
Isabell the Frenche quene because the kyng her husband was fallen into his old frenaticall
disease hauyng in her compaigny the duke of Burgoyn and therle of Sainct Paule, and she
had attendyng on her the laire iady Katheryn her doughter and. xxvi. ladies and damoselles,
and had also for her furniture a thousande men of warre.
AFTER these estates had reposed themselfes one night in their tentes, the next day all
such as were appointed repaired toward the pauilion ordained for the consultation.
Where the kyng of England, like a prince of great stomacke and no lesse good be-
hauior receioed humbly the Frenche quene and her daughter and them honorably em-
braced & familierly kissed. The duke of Burgoyn made lowe curtesy and bowed to the
kyng, whom the kyng louyngly toke by the hand and honorably entertained. After
•salutaciens and embrasynges finished, they fel to counsel within the pauilion assigned,
whiche was kept with a garde appointed by both the parties that none but comissioners shuld
once attempt to enter. After the kynges requestes made & his demaundes declared, the
French quene and her company toke leaue louyngly of the kyng of England and returned
to Ponthoyse to certifie her husband of her demaundes and claymes. And kvng Henry re-
turned to Mante. The next day after they assembled againe, & the Frenche part brought
with them the lady Katherin, only to thentent that the king of England seyng and be-
holdyng so fayre a lady and so minion a damosel, should so be inflamed and rapte
in loue, that he to obtayne so beautiful an espouse, should the soner agrc to a gentle
peace & louyng composicion. This company met together, viij. seueral tymes, some-
tyme the one party was more and sometynie the other. And notwithstandyng that the En<r-
•Ji«hmen and Frenchmen were lodged no great distance asunder, yet was there neuer
fraye nor occasion of tumulte or riot prouoked or stirred of any of both the parties,
whiche (bothe their natures considered) is somewhat to be marueiled at.
IN this assemble many wordes were spent and no dedes done, many thin^es re-
paired and few offered, many arguroentes made and no coclusion taken. Some authors
write that the dolphyn to let this treatie sent to the duke of Burgoyne sir Tauegny
du Chastcl, declaryng to him that if he would let this agrement, he would comon with
him and take suche an ordre, that not only they but the whole realme of France
should therof be glad and reioyce : But what was the very cause of the breche, no man
certainly declareth. When no effect ensued of this long consultacion, both parties
after a princely fashion departed, the Englishmen to Mantes and the Frenchmen to
Ponthoyse.
THE kyng of England was nothing pleased nor yet contented that this comunicacion
came to none ende, wherfore he mistrustyng the duke of Burgoyn to the verv let and
stop of hie desires and requestes, sayd vnto him before his departing : fayre cosin,
NS W
93 THE. VII. YERE OF
we wil hiue your kynges daughter and al thinges that we demauud with her or we
wil driue your kyng & you out of his realme. Well sayd' the duke of Burgoyn,
before you driue the kyng and me out of his realme, you shalbe wel weried, and therof
we doubt lytle.
AFTER this departure, the duke of Burgoyn beyng nobly accompanied, roade to the
toune of Melune wher the dolphyn then soiorned where in the plaine feldes they. ii.
like frendes comoned together & cpcluded apparantly an open amide & sure frcndship,
which was written by notaries and signed with their handes and sealed with their
great scales and armes, but as the sequele sheweth, heart thought not that tong talked,
nor mind meant not that hand wrote. This treaty was concluded the. vi. day of luly in the
yere of our lord 1419 and was proclaimed in Paris, Amience and Ponthoyse.
THIS newe alienee notified shortly to the kyng of England liyng at Maunt, which ther-
with was sore displeased, and not without cause For he perceiued that the force of these
two princes were much stronger now beyng vnited in one, then they were before beyng
seperated & deuided. Yet notwithstanding this great sworne andsealed amitie, he nothyng
more minded then to set forward his intended enterprise with the ayde of God to performe
his conquest maugre and euil wyll and puissance of his enemies. Wherfore he sent the
capitayne of Bueffe brother to the earle of Foys newly created earle of Longuile with. xv.
C. men secretly to the toune of Ponthoyse, whiche on Trinitie sonday erly in the mornyng
came to the toune, and so sodainl v- and so shortely set vp their skalyng ladders to the wall,
that they were entred into the toune or the watche perceiued them, criyng saint George, saint
George the lord Lisleadam capitain of the toune perceiuyng the walles skaled and the
market place gained, opened the gate toward Paris, at the whiche he withal his retinue
and diuers of the tounes men to the norabre of. viij. thousand fled. For the Englishmen
durst not because their nombre was smal ones deuide them selues or fal to pilferyng, til
about prime the duke of Clarence came to their ayde with. v. thousand men, and by the
way he encoutred diuers burgesses of the toune fliyng with al their substance toward
Beauuoys who he toke prisoners & brought them againe to their olde dwellyng place.
When the duke was come to Ponthoyse, he muche praised the valiantnes of the assailantes
and gaue to them the chief spoyle of the toune and marchauntes of the which they had
great plenty and foyson. Then the duke with a great puissaunce came before Paris and
lay before the cytie two daiesand two nightes without any proffre either of issue by his ene-
mies or of defece if he had the same assauted, whiche he could not we! do because it was
long and ample, and his nobre small, and for so great an enterprise not furnished : Wher-
fore seyng that his enemies durst not ones loke on him, he returned againe to Ponthoyse,
for the taking of whiche toune, the countrey of Fraunce, & in especial the Parisiens were
sore dismayed and astonied, for there was no fortresse hable to resist or withstand. In so
much the Irishmen ouercame al the Isle of Fraunce and did to the Frenchmen dammages
innumerable (as their writters affirme) and brought dayly praies to the Englishe armye.
And beside that, they would robbe houses and lay beddes on the backes of the kine and
ride vpon them, and cary yong children before them and sell them to the Englishmen for
slaues : whiche straung doynges so feared the Frenchemen within the territory of Paris and
the coutrey about, that the rude persons fled out of the villages withal their stuffe to the cytie
of Paris.
THE French kyng and the duke of Burgoyn liyng at S. Denise hearyng of all these do-
ynges, departed in all the hast with the quene and her daughter to Troys in Champaigne,
there takyng great deliberation what was best to be done, leauyng at Paris the earle of S.
Paul and the lord Lisleadam with a great puissance to defende the cytie. At the same tyme
the duke of Clarence toke the strong toune of Gysors, & after that was taken the toune of
Gayllard: and all the tounes of Normandy shortly after were either taken by force or ren-
dred, except the Mount saint Michel, which because the gayne therof was very lytle and
the
KYNG HENRY THE. V. S3
the losse in assautyng semed to be very muche, and also it could do small harme or none to
the countrey adioynyng, was neither assaulted nor besieged.
AND thus as you haue heard, was the duchy of Normandy reduced agayne into the right
line and restored to the possession of the right heyre, which had bene fro the tyme of kyng
Henry the third, in the yere of our lord 1255 wrongfully detained from the kynges of
England.
THE wisemen of Fraunce sore lamentyng the chaunce of their coutrey and the misery
of their people sawe and perceiued that they had puissance ynough to defende their enemies
if they were at a perfite cocord amongest themselues. For they apparantly sawe that al-
though there wer a peace openly concluded betwene the dolphyn and the duke of Burgoyn,
yet they imagined that no good fruit succeded of the same for the duke either for secret
displeasure that he bara to the dolphyn, or for the doubt that he had of thenglishme,
neuer assailed by him self the army of kyng Henry, nor^neuer sent ayde or succours
to the Dolphyn. Wherfore by meanes of frendes a new comunicacion was appointed to
thentent that the corrupt dregges of their olde malice and inwarde grudges might be clearely
cast out and extinct. The place of this metyng was appoincted at the toune of Monstrel
fault Yonne, so called because a small brooke called Yonne runneth there to the riuer of
Sein ouer which riuer was made a bridge, with diuers barres ouerthwart so that the princes
openyng the barres might eche embrace and louche other, and kepyng the barres shut, eche
might se & common with other at their pleasure. The day was appointed when these, ii.
great princes should mete on this bridge, to thentent that all ciuile discord should by this
comunicacion be cleare forgotten, or at the least should be suspended tyl the enemies
were vanquished and driuen out of their coutries and confines. But this mocion worse
succeded then the entreators deuised, for while euery man was fulfilled with hope of peace
and concord, crafty imaginacion crepte out of cancard displeasure had almost brought al
thinges from libertie into bondage.
WHEN the day and place of the solempne enteruiew was agreed & assigned, Tauagny
du Chastel, a ma prompt and prone to all mischief, called to his remembraunce the shamefull
murder of Lewes duks of Orleaunce (vnder whom he had long bene a capitaine) done and
committed by this duke of Burgoyne as before you haue heard, determined with him selfe to
reuenge the death of his olde Maister and lorde. .Some say that he was therto stirred £ pro-
uoked by the dolphyn (and notvnlike) for the dolphyn whiche bare a continual hatred to the
duke of Burgoyn, imagined paraduenture by this meanes to represse and subdue the whole
power and high pride of this duke, without any suspection of frauds or rcproche of vntruth
or vilany. Wei the day came, which was the. xii. day of August, and euery prince with
his nombre appointed 'came to this bridge. The duke of Burgoyne beyng warned by his
frendes to kepe his closure and the barres on his side shut, lytle regarded his frcdes mo-
nicion as a ma that could not auoide the stroke for him prouided, and so opened the barres
and closure and carne to the dolphyns presence, whiche was cleane armed, and kneled
douneon the one kne, shewyng to him great reuerence and humilitie. The dolphyn shewed
him no louyng countenaunce, but reproued him, laiyng to his charge muche vntruth and
great dishonor. The duke againe boldly defended his cause. Nowe the duke duryng this
comunicacion kneled styl and his sworde was at his backe with often turnyng and mouyng
in answeryng the dolphyn and his counsel, and so he put his had backe to plucke his sworde
forwarder what quod sir Robert de Loyer, wyll you drawe your sworde against my lorde the
dolphyn? when Tauagny du Chastel apperceiued that an occasion was geuen to performe his
enterprise, incontinent he strake him with a hatchet on the head so that he could not speakc,
other standyng by shortly dispatched him of his life. Diuers of his part, thinkyng him not
dead, began to draw weapon, amongest whom the lord Nouale was slaine, and the other
taken. For this murther were condenrfpned (but not apprehended) by Parliament the presi-
dent of Prouynce, the vicount of Narbone, Guylliam Battelier, Tauagny du Chastel, Ro-
bert Loyre and. iiij. other. This was the ende of Ihon called the proude duke of Burgoyne,
4 whiche
THE. VIII. YE-Rfi OF
- ',
nhidie more regarded citrile warre and -intestine dissencion, then his owne life & welfare.
And this bodein death as I thinke eameto him not without desert for shamefully murtheryng
1 I. ewes duke of Orleance the .French kings brother. Such is the Justice of God, that hloud
for the most parte is recompensed with bloud, & vnnatural homicide is requited with
shameful death or soden destruction.
AFTER this heynous murder, thus committed, I might rehcrse how the dolphyns ser-
nauntes despoyled the duke of all his garmentes to his shevte, and coueredliis face with his-
hosen. I could declare how the •dolphyn sent his letters to Paris and other cities and
tonnes, publishing vntruely diuers opprobious wordes spoken, & diuers great and outragious
offences done l>y the duke against the kyng and the whole realme. I could further declare
IJOHC the wise«ie« of Frauuce detested and abhorred this abhominable act, perceiuyng the
endc that was like to ensue, and how the contrary side, whiche was the linage of Orleance
reioysed and laughed at this miserable chaunce and sodain fal: but because thenglish nacion
was parlie neither to the facte nor to the counsel, I wyll declare what the kyng of Englande
did after this uotorious dede done and committed,
f THE. VIII. YERE.
The. viiu WIfen Philip erle Charoloys sone and hey re to this duke Ihon, and now by this murthcr
yere. an(j death of his father duke of Burgoyn and erle of Flauders was enformed liyng at Gaunt
of this misfortune and final ende of his noble parent and louyng father, he toke the matter
as he had cause, greuously and heauily, insomuche that no ma of his cousel durst ones
speake to him, and in especial the lady Michel his wife, syster to the dolphyn and daughter
to the kyng, was in great feare to be forsaken and cast out of his house and fauoure: But
as all thinges ende, so sorow asswageth. When his doloure was somewhat mitegate he fyrst
by thaduise of his counseil receitied to his fauor and company the fayre duches his louyng
wife, and after sent diuers notable ambassadours to the king of England liyng at Roan to
trcate and conclude a peace betwene them both for a certain space : To which request in
hope of a better chaunce kyng Henry agreed. After that knot knit, he kept a solempne ob-
sequy for his father at saint Vaas in Arras wher were, xxiii. prelates with crosses : Duryng
which tyme the earle of saint Paule and the Parisiens sent to hym ambassadours to know
what they should do, and how they should defend them selues against the Englishmen. He
gently answered the messengers, that he trusted shortly by the ayde of God and licence of
the kyng to conclude a peace and perpetual amitie to their great comfort & relief. When
these ambassadors were departed to make relacion to the Magistrates and gouernors of the
cytie of Paris, he after long c5sultacion had aswel with men of the spiritualtie as temporal
and lay persons, sent the bishop of Arras and two notable persons to the kyng of England
with certaine articles and clauses which the duke of Burgoyn oftred to him for very loue
as he sayd. The kyng of England consideryng with him selfe that the duke of Burgoyn was
a coucnient organe and a necessary instrument to conueigh his desires to his purpose, lou-
yngly receiued & honorably enterteined the dukes ambassadours, declaryng vnto them that
lie would without prolongyng of tyme send to hym his Ambassadours, whiche should open
his lawful requestes & reasonable desires. With this answere, the dukes messengers de-
parted towarde Arras and incontinent after their departure, kyng Henry sent the erle of
Warwike and the bishop of Rochestre with many knightes & esquiers to the duke of Bur-
goyn, whiche to hym declared the effect and purpose of their ambassade and comyng : he
gently heard their requestes, and some he alowed and some he augmented, and some he
altred and disalowed, but in coclusion, by often sendyng betwene the kyng & the duke they
were agreed, so the kyng and his comons would assent. Now was the Erenche kyng and
the quene and his daughter Katheryn at Troys in Champaigne, gouerned and ordred by
.;them whiche would rather, x. tymes spurre forward the purpose & ententes of the duke of
Burgoyn
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
Burgoyn then once with a bridle to pul backe any one iote preferred by him. What should
I say, a truce tripertited betwene the. ii. kynges and the duke and their countreys was de-
termined, so that the kyng of Englad should send in the copany of the duke of Burgoyn his
Ambassadors to Troy in Chapaigne sufficiently authorised to coclud so great a matter. The
kyng of England beyng in good hope that all his affaires should prosperously succede and
go forward, sent to the duke of Burgoyn his vncle the duke of Exceter, the erle of Sals--
bury, the bishop of Ely, the lord Fanhope and lord Fitzhugh, sir Ihon Rob.sert and sir
Philip Hal with diuers doctors to the nombre of. CCCCC. horse, whiche in the copany of
the duke of Burgoyn came to the cytie of Troys the. xxi. daye of Marche. The kyng, the
queue and the lady Katherin them receiued and heartcly welcomed, shewyng great signes
and tokens of loue and amitie. After a fewe daies they fcl to counsel, in the whiche it was
c5c!uded that kyng Henry of England should come to Troys and mary the lady Katherin,
and the kyng should make him heyre of his realme, croune and dignitie after his death and
departure out of this naturall life with many other articles whiche hereafter in a place more
conuenient you shal heare rehersed.
WHEN all these thynges were done and concluded, the Ambassadors of England depart-
ed toward their kyng leauyng behynde them sir Ihon llobsert to geue his attendaunce on the
lady Katherin. When kyng Henry had heard his Ambassadors reherse the articles and
pointes of the treatie and amitie concluded, he condiscended & agreed with all diligence to-
set toward Troys, logyng for the sight of his darlyng the fayre lady Katherin. And al-
thoughe he reioysed that all thynges succeded more luckely to his purpose then he before
imagined, yet he trusted not so much to the glosyng wordes and golden promises of the
Frenche nacion beyng his aunoient enemies, that he would rashely aduenture his person
without a perfite serch and diligent inquirie of the doynges and attemptes of his doubtful
and newe reconciled frendes, beyng warned and admonished by the late mischance of Ihon •
duke of Burgoyn yet 'recent in euery mans eye. But when he sawe the sunne- shyne and ayre
clere on euery syde, he accompanied with the dukes of Clarence and Gloucester his brethren,
the carles of Warwike, Salsbury, Huntyngdon, Ewe, Tankeruile and Loguile and. xv. thou-
sand men of wane, departed from Roan to Ponthoyse, and from thence to sainct Denis
two leagues from Paris, and from thence to Pontcharenton where he left a garison of
menne to kepe the passage, and from thence by Prouynce, he came toward Troys, where
the duke of Burgoyn accoinpaignied with many noble men receiued hytn two leagues with-
out the toune and coueighed hym to his lodgyng and his princes with hym, and all his annie
MfaS' lodged in small villages theraboute. And after he had reposed himself, he went to
visete the kyng, the queue and the lady Katheryn, whom-he founde in Sainet Peters Churche,
where was a iotyous metyng, honorable receiuyng and a louyng embrasyng on bothe partes,
whiche was the twenty daie of Maie. And ther wer the kyng and the lady Katherin made
sure together before the high Aultare, and on the third daie of Tune nexte folowyng, thei
•were with all solempnite espoused and maried in the same Churche. At whiche muriate
the Englishmen made suche triumphes, pompes and pagiauntes as though the kyng of all
the worlde had' been present. la so muche (as three Frenche writers affinne) that the
nobles of Fraunce-more merueled at the henor and glory of the Englishmen, then thei d($-
deigned or maligned at their owne fortune.
AND when these solempne ceremonies wer honorably finished and the mariageL-consum.--
mate, the twoo kynges and their counsaill assembled together diuerse daics, wherirr the for-
mer league and treatie was in diuerse poyntes altred and brought to a certaintie by the de-
uice of the kyng of Englande and his brethren. When this great matter was finished, the
kynges sware for their part to obserue this agrement and league in all poynctes. Likewise
sware the duke of Burgoyn and a great nombre of princes and nobles whiche .wer presente,
and that the soner because they marueiled before at his noble Actes dooen by kyna Henry'
of whom thei had knowledge only by report, and now thei more marueled when thei sawe
and beheld the honor, estate & wisedome of his personc, But whether thei sware with out-
warde
96 THE. VIII. YERE OF
warde countenaunce and inwardly thought the contrary, let them whiche Icnowe the Frenche
constancy iudge and tell truthe. But assuredly thei perceiued .hym to bee prudent bothc
in askyng and geuyng counsaill. Thei sawe hym expert and apt to marciall feates, and
nymble in all thynges apperteighyng to warre. Thei thought hym strong against all perelles
and imagined hym fortunate in all chaunces and doynges, wherfore as I saied, thei mire he
marueled at hym, and more regarded his persone. Then was lie named and proclaimed
heire & Regent of Fraunce. And as the French kyng sent the copie of this treaty to
euery toune in France, so the kyng of Englande sent the same in Englishe to euery citec
and market toune to be published and deuulged, the very copie whereof as it was then writ-
ten, woorde by woorde ensueth.
If The Articles and appoynctmentes of the peace betwene the realmes of Englande
and Fraunce.
HENRY by the grace of God kyng of Englande, heire and Regent of Fraunce, lorde
of Irslande, to perpetuall mind to Christen people and all tho that be vnder our obeisance
we notefie and declare that though there hath been here aforne diuerse treaties betwene the
moste excellent Prince Charles our father of Fraunce and his progenitors for the peace to
be had betwene the twoo realmes of Fraunce and Englande the whiche here before haue
borne no fruite : \Ve consideryng the greate harmes the whiche hath not onely fallen betwene
these twoo realmes for the great deuision that hath been betwene the, but to all holy churche.
We haue taken a treaty with our saied father, in whiche treaty betwixt our saied father and
vs, it is concluded and accorded in the forme after the maner that foloweth.
1 FIRST it is accorded betwixt oure father and vs, that forasmuche as by the bond of Ma-
trimony made for the good of the peace betwene vs and our most dere beloued Katheryn
doughter of our saied father and of our moste dere mother Isabell his wife, thesame Charles
and Isabell been made father and mother, therfore them as our father and mother we shall
haue and worship as it sitteth and semeth so a worthy prince and princesse to be worship-
ped principally before all other temporall persones of the world.
3 ALSO we shall not distroble, disseason or letten our father aforsaid, but that he holde
and possede as long as he liueth as he holdeth and possedeth at this tyme the croune and
the dignitee royall of Fraunce, and rentes and proffites for thesame of the sustenance of
his estate and charges of the realme. And our forsaid mother also hold aslong as she
liueth thestate & dignitee of Queue, after the maner of the same realme with conuenable con-
uenience part of the said rentes and proffites.
3 ALSO that the forsaid lady Katherin shall take and haue dower in our realme of Eng-
lande as Quenes of England here afore wer wont for to take and haue, that is to say, to the
some of. xl. M. Scutes, of the whiche two algate shalbe worth a noble Englishe.
4 ALSO that by the waies maners and meanes that we male without transgression or offence
of other made by vs, for to kepe the lawes, customes, vsages and rightes of our saied realme
of Englande shall doen our labor and pursute that thesaid Katheryn al so sone as it maie
be doen, be made sure to take and for to haue in our said realme of Englande from the
tyme of our death thesaied dower of. xl. M. scutes yerely, of the whiche twayne algate be
worth a noble Englishe.
5 ALSO if it hap the said Katheryn to ouerliue vs, she shall take and haue the realme of
Fraunce ymediately, from the tyme of our death, dower to the some of. xx. M. Frankes
yerely of and vpon the landes, places and lordshippes that held and had Blaunch somtyrne
wife of Philip Boseele to our saied father.
6 ALSO that after the death of our father aforsaied, and from thence forwarde, the croune
and the realme of Fraunce with all the rightes and appurtenaunces shall remain and abide
to vs and been of vs and of our heires for euermore.
7 ALSO forasmuche as our saied father is witholden with diaerse sicknes, in suche maner
as
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 97
as he maie not intencte in his owne persone for to dispose for the nedes of theforsaied realme
of Fraunce: therfore duryng the life of our saied father, the faculties and exercise of the
gouernance and disposicion of the publique and common proffice of the saied realme of
Fraunce with -counsaiH and nobles and wise men of the same realme" of Fraunce shalbe and
abide to vs: So that from thencefurthe we maie gouerne the same realme by vs. And also
to admit to oure cousaill and assistence of thesaid nobles suche as we shall thynke mete the
which faculties and exercise of gouernance thus being toward vs, we shall labor and pur-
pose vs spedefully, diligently and truly to that that maie be and ought for to be to the worship
of God and our saied father and mother, and also to the common good of thesaied realme,
and that realme with the counsaill and help of the worthy and great nobles of thesame
realme for to be defended, peased and gouerned after right and equitie.
ALSO that we of our owne power shall do the courte of the Parliament of Frauce to be 8
kept & obserued in his authorite and soueraignte and in all that is doen to it in all maner
of places that now or in tyme commyng is or shalbe subiect to our saied father.
ALSO wee to oure power shall defende and helpe all and euery of the Peres, nobles, ci- 9
tees, tounes, commonalties and syngular persons now or in tyme commyng subiectes to our
father in their rightes, customes, priueleges, fredome and fraunchises longyng or dewe to
them in all maner of places now or in tyme commyng subiect to our father.
ALSO we diligently and truly shall trauaile to our power and do that iustice be admi- 10
nistered and doen in the same realme of Fraunce after the lawes, customes and rightes of
thesame realme, without personalx excepcion. And that we shall kepe and holde the sub-
iectes of the same realme in tranquilitie and peace, and to our power we shall defend them
against all maner of violence and oppression.
ALSO we to our power shall prouide, and do to our power that able persones and prof- j j
fitable been taken to the offices aswell of Justices and other offices longyng to the gouern-
aunce of the demaynes and of other offices of the said realme of Fraunce for the good, right
and peaceable Iustice of the same, and for thadministration that shalbe comitted vnto theini
and that they be suche persons that after the lawes and rightes of the same realme and for
the vtilitee and proffite of our saied father shall minister, and that the forsaied realme shall
bee taken and deputed to thesame offices.
ALSO that wee of our power so sone as it maie commodiously bee doen, shall trauaile 12
for to put into the obedience of our saied father, all maner of cities, tounes and Castles,
places, countrees and persones within the realme of Fraunce disobedient and rebelles to
our saied father, holdyng with them whiche been called the Dolphin or Armuiack.
ALSO that we might the more comodiously, surely and frely doen exercise and fulfill these 1 3
thynges aforsaid. It is accorded that all worthy nobles and estates of the same realme of
Fraunce aswel spirituals as temporalles, and also citees notables and commonalties, and cite-
zens, burgeis of tounes of the realme of Fraunce, that been obcysaunt at this tyme to our
saied father shall make these othes that folowen.
FIRST to vs hauyng the facultie, exercise, disposicion and gouernaunce of the forsaied 14
common proffite to our hestes and commaundementes thei shall mekely and obediently obeye
and intende in all maner of thyng concernyng the exercise of gouernance of thesame realme.
ALSO that the worthy greate nobles and estates of the saied realme aswell spirituals as I 5
temporalles and also citees and notable commonalties and Cittezens and Burgeses of the
same realme in all maner of thynges well and truly shall kepe and to their power shall do to
be kept of so muche as to theim belonged) or to any of theim all, those thynges that been
apoyncted and accorded betwene our forsaid father and mother and vs, with the counsaill of
them whom vs lust to calle to vs.
ALSO that continually from the death and after the death of our saied father Charles, 15
they shalbe our true liegcme and our heires, and they shall receiue and admit vs for their
liege and soureigne and verie kyng of Fraunce, and for suche to obeye vs without oppo-
sicio, contradiccion or difficultee, as they be^en to our forsaid father dnryng his life, neuer
° after
98 THE. VIII. YERE OF
after this, realmc of Frauce shall obey to man as kyng or regent of Fraunce, but to vs and
our hcires. Also they shall not be in counsaill belpe or assente that we lese life or lyuime,
or be take with euill takyng, or that we suft're harme or diminicion in person, estate* worship
or goodes, but if thei knovve any suche thyng for to be cast orymagined against vs, thei shall
let it to their power, and they shall doen vs to weten therof as hastely as thei inaie by theim-
self, by message or by letters.
1 7 ALSO that all maner of conquestes that should bee made by vs in Fraunce vpon the saied in-
obedientes out of the Duchie of Normandy shalbe doen to the proffite of our said father, and
that to our power we shall do that al maner of landes and lordshipes that been in the places
so for to be conquered longyng to persones obeyng to our saied father, vvhiche shall sweare for
to kepe this presente accord .shalbee restored to thesame persones to whom they long to.
18 ALSO that all maner of persones of holy Church beneficed in the Duchy of Normandy
or any other places in the realme of Frauce subiect to our futher and fauouryng the partie of
the dukes of Burgoyne whiche shall sweare to kepe this present accord, shall reioyce peace-
ably their benefices of holy Churche in the Duchy of Normandy, or in any other places next
aforsaied.
19 ALSO likewise all maner persones of holy Churche obedient to vs and beneficed in the
realme of Fraunce and places subiect to our father that shall swere to kepe this presente ac-
cord, shall enioye peaceably their benefices of holy Churche in places next abouesaied.
20 ALSO that all maner of Churches, Vniuersitees and studies gcnerall, and all Colleges of
studies and other Colleges of holy Churche beyng in places now or in tyme commyng sub-
iecte to our father, or in the Duchy of Normady, or other places in the realme of Fraunce
subiect to vs, shall enioye their rightes and possessions, rentes, prerogatiues liberties and
fraunchises longyng or dewe to theim in any maner of wise in the said realme of Fraunce,
sauyng the right of the croune of Fraunce and euery other persone.
gl ALSO by Goddes help, when it happeneth vs to come to the croune of Fraunce, the Duchy
of Normandy and all other places conquered by vs in the realme of Fraunce shall bowe
vnder the commaundemcnt obeysaunce and Monarchy of the croune of Fraunce.
22 ALSO that we shall enforce vs and dooe to our power that recompence bee made by our
said father without diminicion of the croune of Fraunce, to persones obeiyng to hym and
fauoryng to that partie that is said Burgoyn, to whom longeth landes, lordshippes, rentes
or possessions in the said Duchy of Normandy or other places in the realme of Fraunce
conquered by vs hethertoward, geuen by vs in places, and landes gotten or to be gotten and
ouercome in the name of our said father vpon rebelles and inobedientes to hym. And if it
so bee that suche maner of recompence bee not made to the saied persones by the life of
our saied father, we shall make that recompence in suche maner of places and goodes when
it happeneth by Goddes grace to the croune of Fraunce. And if so be that the landes, lord-
shippes, rentes or possessios the vvhiche longeth to suche maner of persones in the saied
Duchy and places be not geuen by vs, thesame persones shalbee restored to theim without
any delaye.
23 ALSO duryng the life of our father in all places nowe or in tyme commyng subiect to
him, letters of common iustice and also grauntes of offices and giftes, pardos or remissions
and priuileges shalbe written and precede vnder the name and seale of our saied father. And.
forasmuche as some syngular cace male fall that maye not bee forseen by mannes witte, in
the whiche it might be necessary and behouefull that we do write our letters, in suche maner
cace if any hap for the good and surety of our saied father and for the gouernauncc" that?
longeth to vs as is beforsaied, and for to eschewen perilles that otherwise might fall to the
prejudice of our saied father to write cure letters, by the whiche we shall commaunde,
charge and defende after the nature andqualitie of the nede in our fathers behalfe and cures
as Regent of Fraunce.
24 ALSO that duryng oure fathers life wee shall not calle ne write vs kyng of Fraunce, but
vtterly we shall absteyne vs from that name as long as our father liueth.
1 ALSO
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 1
ALSO that oursaied father duryng his life shall nempne, call, and write vs in French in 25
this maner Nostre treschier jils Henry Roy Denglcterre heretere de Fraunce, and in
latin in this maner. Precharissimus filius noster Henricus Rex Anglian & heres Francis.
ALSO that we shall put none imposicions or exaccios, or do charge the subiectes of our 25
said father without cause resonable and necessary, ne otherwise then for common good of
the realme of Fraunce, and after the saiyng and askyng of the lawes and customes reason-
able, approued of thesame realme.
ALSO that we shall trauaile to our power to the effect and intent, that by thassent of the 27
three estates of either of the realmes of Fraunce and Englande, that all maner of obstacles
maie be doen awaie, and in this partie that it be ordeigned and prouided that fro the tyme
that we or any of our heires come to the croune of Fraunce, bothe the crounes that is to
saie of Fraunce and England perpetually be together in one and in thesame persone, that
is to saie from our fathers life to vs, and from the terme of our life thence forward in the
persones of our heires that shalbee one after another. And that bothe realmes shalbee
gouerned fro that wee or any of our heires come to thesame, not seuerally vnder diuersc
kynges in one tyme, but vnder that same person whiche for the tyme shalbe kyng of bothe
the realmes and souereigne lorde as it is beforesaid, kepyng neuerthelesse in all maner of
other thynges to ether of y same realmes their rightes, liberties, customes, vsages and lawes,
not makyng subiecte in any maner of wise one of thesame realmes to the rightes, lawes or
vsages of that other.
ALSO that henceforwarde, perpetually shalbee still reste, and that in all maner of wise, 28
discencions, hates, rancoures, enuies, and warres betwene thesame realmes of Fraunce and
England, and the people of thesame realmes, drawyng to accorde of thesame peace maie
cease and bee broken.
ALSO that there shalbe fro hence forwarde for euermore peace and tranquillitee and «y
good accord and common affeccion and stable frendship betwene thesame realmes and their
subiectes beforesaied : thesame realmes shall kepe theselfes with their counsaill helpes and
comon assistence against all maner of men that enforce theim for to doen or to ymagine
wronges, harmes, displeasours or greuaunce to theim or to ether of theim. And thei
shalbe conuersaunt and Marchandisen frely and surely together paiyng the custome dew
and accustomed. And thei shalbe conuersaunt also, that al the confederates and alies of
our said father and the realme of Fraunce aforsaid, and also our confederates, of the realme
of Englande aforsaied, shall in. viij. monethes from the tyme of this accord of peace as it is
notified to the, declare by their letters that they wolle draw to this accord and vvoll be com-
prehended vnder the treaties and accord of this peace, sauyng neuerthelesse ether of the
same Crounes, and also all maner accions rightes and reuenues that longen to our sayd fa-
ther and his subiectes and to vs and to our subiectes againe such maner of allies and con-
federacies.
ALSO neither our father neither our brother the duke of Burgoyn shall bcgynne ne make 30
with Charles clepyng himselfe the dolphyn of Vyennes any treaty or peace or accorde but
bv counsel and assent of all and eche of vs thre or of other thre estates of either of the sayd
realmes aboue named.
Also that we with assent of our sayd brother of Burgoyn & other of the nobles of the -^1
realmes of Fraiice the whiche therto owen to be called shal ordaine for the gouernance of
our sayd father sekyrly, louyngly and honestly after the askyng of his royal estate and dig-'
nitie by the maner that shalbe to the worship of God and of our father and of the realme of
Fraunce.
ALSO all maner of persons that shalbe about our father to do him personal seruice, not 32
onely in office but in all other seruices aswell the nobles and gentles as "other shalbe suche
as hath bene borne in the realme of Fraunce or in places longyng to Fraunce, good, wise,
true and able to that foresayd seruice. And our sayd father shall dwell in places notable of his
obedience and nowhere els. Wherfore we charge & comaunde our savd liege subiectes and"
O 2 other
100 THE. VIII. YERE OF
other beyng vnder our obedience that they kepe and do to be kept in all thatlongeth to them
this accord and peace after the forme and maner as it is accorded. And that they atternpte
in no maner wyse any thyng that may be prejudice or cotrary to the same accorde and
peace vpon paine of life,and lymme and all that they may forfaite against vs. Youen at
Troys the. xxx. day of May 1420 and proclaimed in London the. xx. day of lune.
33 ALSO that we for the thinges aforesayd and euery one of the shall geue our assent by our
letters patentes sealed with our scale vnto oure sayd father with all approbacion & confirma-
cion of vs and all other of our bloud royal and all other of the cities and tounes to vs obedient
sealed with their scales accustomed. And further oure sayd father beside his letters patentes
sealed vnder his great scale shall make or cause to be made letters approbatory and confirrna-
cions of the peres of his realme and of the lordes, citezens and burgesses of the same vnder
his obedience, all which articles we haue sworne to kep* vpon the holy Euangefistes.
HERE I ought not to forget howe. ii. men named learned in bothe the lawes, the one
called master Ihon Bouchet the Aquitanical writer & Archedeacon of Terbe, & the other
Master de Prato a solempne prothonotary his pratyng gloser wrote of this treaty and com-
posicio, and make therof so a great matter as by the makyng of this peace it shuld appeare
that England had no right to Frauce, nor by this graunt nothyng to England was geuen-.
Fyrst Ihon Bouchet saieth that this treaty was the worst cotract that euer was made for the
kynges of England, for by this saith he it is apparant that the kyng of Englvid hath neither
tytle nor right to the croune of Fraunce but by this coposicion, for if they had right, why did
they take it by coposicion ? vpon this text Master gloser saieth, that this composicion geueth
a new right, and if there wer any old it taketh it away and geueth a new, whiche new gift
was of litle value and lesse efficacie in the law because the issue female may not en-
herite accordyng to the lawe Salique, & therfore he cannot make his doughter heyre to the
croune of Fraunce. If I might be so bold I wold axe Maister Ihon Bouchet this ques-
tion : if a ma wrongfully kepe me out of the possession of my true and lawful inheri-
taunce (with whom lam neither able with purse neither with power to prosecute my
cause before a competent iudge by proces of the lawe) wyll of his owne mere mocion
(moued paraduenture with conscience) render to me my right, so I wyl suffre him to
enioy my lande duryng his life, or that I wyl mary his daughter, haue I this land by his gift
or as a thyng to me iustly by law and equitie rendred and receiued. Likewise if a riche man
owe to a poore man an hundreth poundes, whiche is not able in substance or for feare of
displeasure dare not attempt any suyte or quarel against his detter, if he wyl offer to pay his-
money at dayes, to the whiche request the poore man agreeth, is this a newe gift of the money
or a payment of the del. In the fyrst question if the demaudant had no tytle, how could he
graunt to him the accion of the land duryng his life, and in the second, if the plaintiffe had
none interest how could he geue him daies of payment and yet in both the cases if the one
part had no right why would the other make an offre or copound, for all coposicions haue
respect to a right precedent. But in this matter, who would iudge that a kyng of so great &
puissant a realme with the asset of his own counsel would dishenerite his onely sonne & sur-
rendre his title without an apparant right and open tytle knowen and shewed by the partie,.
for the olde prouerbe sayeth, long sufferaunce is no acquittance, nor prolongyng of tyme
tlerogacion to right, also restitucion is no graut, nor payment of duetie is no gift. Doctors
write and clerkes afferme that these treaties, arLitrementes and composicions be bothe godly,
charitable and honest, both' to restore the one partie to his auncient right (whether it be in
landes or goodes) and to dispence & releue the other with the takyng of the profiles of the
land and vsyng in mai chandies the occupacion of the money. Now to Master gloser whiche
affirmeth that a composicion taketh away an old right & geueth a new and that this coposicion
is of no value: surely Master Ihon de Prato I would haue suche a peuyshe proctor reteined
against me for you say that euery coposicion geueth a new right and taketh away the auaciet
title, yet you sayd before y this coposicion neither geueth nor can geue any right, whiche
coclusion is manifestly repugnant to the antecedent therfore you must be answered thus, if
nothyng
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 101
nothyng be geuen nothyng is taken away, & so consequently no coposicion, & if there be no
coposicion then remaineth styl the olde and auncient tytle in the state that it was. Parad-
uenture Master gloser wyl say and allege the tytle of England to be abrogated because the
bouse of Valoys may lawfully prescribe against the kynges of England and haue had the
possession fortie yeres and more, & so by this nieane kyng Hery had no tytle to clayme or
chalenge any part of the realme of Fraunce. Then 1 pray you remember the yeres & ac-
compt the doynges and you shall euidently perceiue that kyng Edward the third the very
indubitate heyre general to the croune of Fraunce kyng Richard the second, kyng Henry
the fourth and this noble kyng Henry the fift neuer desisted, vi. or. viii. yeres at the moost
either by battaile or treatie to chalenge and clayme their aucient right and old enheritaunce
to the by quene Isabel discended,so the title was euer in strife and neuer quiet tyll nowe the
right lyne is restored : And as for your law Salique put it in your boget among lyes & fayned
fables. Thus you may se the affections of Frenchemen, that an Arche foole cannot forge a
lye for his pleasure, but a prothodawe wyll faine a glose to mainteine his folish fatasie. Let
vs now leue these wylful writers and returne to the kyng of England, which after al these
articles of the treaty beyng concluded and sworne, made the Frenche kyng the duke of
Burgoyn and other the Frenche lordes a solempne and sumptuous supper and banket, and
before their departyng he sadly and soberly sayd to them these wordes.
All my thought care & study is (you noble princes & men of high honor) to inuent the
meane, study & way, how both my kyngdomes by the benefite of almightie God enlarged &.
amplified, by the conexyng & ioynyng the one to the other may be left to my posteritie clene
& pure without domestical dissecion or ciuile discorde, to thentent that as no prince nor
potestate hath at this day in all Europe a greater gouernance, a richer regiment nor a more
puissant empire : So I trust to leue it that hereafter ther shal no power or dominion be able
to be to it copared orequyolent. Wherfore I entende fyrst to extirpate & plucke away the
rotes & leuynges of the ciuile discecion in this realme lately begon which ly in the brest of
Charles the kynges sone, by your decre, Judgement and assent, of the newe state and dig-
nitie of the Dolphyn vtterly depriued and disgraded, against whom it is couenient and decent
that you beare armure not so muche to destroy &' confound him, as to bring him to do obay-
sance and reasonable coformitie. What maner a prince thinke you he would proue, when,
he should obtaine & possesse a kyngdome, which beyng but a lusty yong striplyng not
fearyng God nor regardyng his honor contrary to his promise & against all humaine honestie,
was not ashamed to polute & staine him selfe with the bloud and homicide of the valeaunt
duke of Burgoyn, O cancard stomacke in the brest of a yong prince, oh tyrannical, heart in
the body of a gentle man, O vntrue long in the mouth of a Christen man; a. Christian, no
aPagane, whiche neglecting his honor, violatyng his promise and dispisyng honestie, would
procure or cosent to so abhominable a fact and sedicious a murder. Wherfore these thynges
well pondered and iustly considered I require you to ioyne, stand, and eleue with-me as the
very heyre & successor of my dere & welbeloued father in lawe kyng Charles in this realme
& kyngdome, fyrst to my noble auncesters, & after to me by right title and iust clayine law-
fully discended. Grudge not I pray you because I that am an Englishman shall succede in.
the croune of France: I assure you, I am not nor. wil not be noted to be to you. a mere alien
and straunger, was not my great grandfather kyng Edward the third sone to quene
Isabel daughter to Philip the fayre and sister and heyre to. iii. kynges of this relme dead
without issue? was not my great graundmother quene Philip discended of the noble house
of Valoys? if the old & trite prouerbe be true that the womans side is the surer side and
that the childe foloweth the wombe, although the one part be Englishe yet the surer part is
Frenche, and of the Frenche flou re budded & brought furth. And therfore remembre not
that I am an English ma put out of your mindes in what coutrey I was borne: and cosider.
that I am a christen man & an anoyn fed. kyng, to who by both the professions it aperteineth,
not onely to defend &. protect their people & subiectes from foreign powers & outward inua-
sions, but also to minister to them indifferent Justice, to conserue them in polliiike ordre &
moderate
102 THE. VIII. YERE OF
moderate quietnes: & finally accordyng to their desert and merites, the to promote auance,
& prefer to riches, honors and estates : which thinges if I would not do to you my trusty
frendes whose louyng heartes and beneuolent myndes I shall neuer forgette nor put in obli-
uion, I should not do my dutie to God I shuld not do the office of a kyng nor I shuld not
do that whiche by the lawesof nature and reason I ought to do, which is to rendre kyndnes
for kyndnes, goodnes for desert, and honor for merite. Therforc to coclude I humbly re-
quire you to stande strong with kyng Charles my father in lawe (who in the stede of myne
ovvne parent I worship, loue and honor) in this concord and agrement whiche I both call &
trust to be a peace final, and after his mortal ende to loue, serue & be true to me and ray
posteritie, and I assure you for my part that the Occean sea shall sonerleue his flowyng and
the bright sunne sh.al soner leue his shiny ng, then I shall ceasse to do that whiche becommeth
a prince to do to his subiecte. or that a father ougiit to do to his natural child.
WHEN he had thus persuaded the nobilitie, he with all his army, hauyng with him the
Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn came before the toune of Sene in Burgoyn
whiche toke part with the dolphyn : and after that he had destroied the countrey about it,
at the. xv. day the toune was yelded and there he made capitain the lorde lenuale. And
from thence he remoued to Monstreau fault yone, where the duke of Burgoyn was slain
nsyou haue heard, whiche toune was taken by assault and many of the dolphyns parte appre-
hended before they could get to the cartel. After the gettyngof the toune, the castle whiche
\vas newly replenished with men and vitayle, denied toredre, and soil was strongly besieged:
tluryng whiche assault the duke of Burgoyn was enformed by diuers in what place the duke
his father was buried, whose corps he caused to be taken vp & sered and so coueighed it
to Diron in high Burgoyn and buried it by duke Philip his father.
THE kyng of England sent certaine of the prisoners that he had taken in this toune to
aduise the capitaine of the castle to yeld the same, but they obstinatly denied the request,
gcuyng opprobrious wordes to the kynges Herault, wherfore the kyng of Englad caused a
gybbet to be setvp before the castle, on the whiche were hanged, xii. prisoners all gentlemen
and frendes to the capilaine. When the lord of Guytry lieftenant of the castle perceiued
that by no m^anes he could be succoured, and fearyng to be taken by force, he beganne to
treat with tlfi> kyng of Englad, whiche in. viij. daies would take none of his offers, but in
coclusion he and his rendred them seines simply, their Hues onely saued, and after, vi. wekes
siege the castle was dcliuered, & the earle of Warwike was made capitain of the toune and
castle, whiche fortefied the same with men, ordinance and artillerie. From thence the king
of England departed to Molyn vpon Seyne and besieged it round aboule in whose company
were the Frenche kyng, theyong kyng of Scottes, the dukes of Burgoyn, Clarence, Bed-
ford, and Gloucester.
The duke of Barre. Therle of Ewe.
The prince of Oreng. -Therle ot'Tankeruile.
The earle of Niche in Auerne. Therle oi'Longuile.
Therle of Huntyngdon. Therle of saint^Paule.
. Therle of Stafford. Therle of Brayne,
Therle of Sommerset. Therle of Ligny.
Therle Marshal. ,> Therle of Vatedcuontur.
Therle of Warwike. Therle of loiuigny.
Therle of Worcester. The Lord llosse.
Therle of Suffolke. The Lord Matrauers.
The archbishop of Britayne earle of Yury. The Lord Gray of Codnor.
The lord Charles ofNauer. The Lord Bourchier.
-Therle of Perche.* s The Lord Andely.
Therle of Mortciine. The Lord Wylloughby.
Therle of Onnond. The Lord Clynton.
Therle of Desmond. The Lord Deyncost.
The
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 103
The Lord Clyffbrd. The Lord Vergeer.
The Lord Ferreys Groby. The Lord of Crony.
The Lord Ferreys of Chartley. The Lord sent George:
The Lord Talbot. The Lord Pesunes.
The Lord Fitzwaren. The Lord Daugien.
The Baron Dudley. The Lord Tremoyle.
The Lord Mouerancy. The Lord lenuale.
The lord Aubemond of Normady. Sir Ihon de Lawuoy.
The lord Beauchape of Normady. Sir Ihon Courselles.
-The Lord Furniuale. The lord of Barenbon.
The Lord Fitzhugh. The lord of lalous.
-The Lord Fanhope. The lord Bonuile.
The Lord Scrope of Balos. Syr Guy de Bar.
The Lord Scrope of Vpsabe. Syr Ihon Fastolf.
The Lord Canneys. Syr Philip Halle.
The Lord Bardolf. -Syr Philip Leche.
The Lord Scales. Syr Ihon Rodney.
The Baron of Care. Syr Morice Bro\vne.
The Lord Duras of Gascon. Syr Piers Tempest.
The Lord de la Laund Gascoy. Syr Robert Tempest
The Lord Montferrant. Syr Guy Moyle.
The Lord Louel. Syr Ihon Stanley.
The Lord Botras of Burge. Syr Lewes Mohu,
The Lord of Chastelon. and. xv. Maister souldiers.
The Lord Lisleadam.
THESE valeaunt princes & noble men besieged the strong tonne by the space almost of.
vii. monethes, they without made mynes, cast trenches and shotgunnes dayly at the wallesy
they within wherof the lord Barbason was chief capitaine manfully defended the same,
this euery day was skyrmishing, scalyng, & assautyng, to the losse of bothe parties, but
most of all to the losse of the within. Duryng whiche siege the Frenche quene and the quene
of England, and the duches of Burgoyn came diuers times to visite their husbandes and se
their fredes, whom the kyng of England so highly feasted, so louyngly entertained and with,
so pleasant pastymes comforted them, that tuery creature of him reported honor, liberalitie,
and gentlenes. This sieg3 so long cotinued that vitayles within the toune began to fayle,
and pestilence began to growe, so that the capitaine began to treat, and in coclusion the'
toune was deliuered vpon certain condicions, wherof one was that all that were concentyng
to the death of the duke of Burgoyn should be deliuered to the kyng, wherof the lorde Bar-
bason was suspected to be one, and so they were deliuered to the kyng of England, whiche
sent the vnder the conduyte of the duke of Clarence his brother to the cytie of Paris wherof
:he Frenche kyng made him capitaine and he toke possession of the bastyl of saint An-
;hony, the Louure, the house of Neele, and the place of Boys de Vynannes:
WHEN this toune was thus yelded, the kyng of England made capitaine thcr therle of
Suntyngdon. Fro thence he departed with his army to Corbeil, where the Frenche kyng
und the two quenes then soiorned, and from thence the. ii. kynges accompanied with the
dukes of Bedford, Burgoyn, Gloucester and Exceter, and therles of Warwike Salisbury
and a greate numbre of noble men and knightes set furthe toward Paris, whom the citezens
in good ordre met without the gates and the Clergy also with solempne processio, al the
ftretes wer hanged with riche clothes £ the people in the stretes shouted and clapped handes
lor ioye, the tvvoo kynges rode together, the kyng of Englande geuyng the vpper hande to
1 is father inlawe through the greate citee of Paris to our Lady Churche, where after they,
said there deuocions they departed to their lodgynges, the Frenche kyng to the hous of.
f1 ainct Paule, & the kyng of Englande to the Castle of Louure. The next day the twoo,
Quenes
THE. VIII. YERE OF
•Queries made their entree into Paris and wer receiued with like solempnite as their hus-
bandes were the day before. If I should declare to you the greate giftes, the costly pre-
sentes, the plenty of vitaile that was geuen to the kyng of Englande : or reherse how the
conduites abundantly spouted out wine of diuers colours, or describe the costly pagiantes,
the plesant songes or swete armony that wer shewed song and played at diuers places of tie
citie, or shewe the greate gladnes, the hertie reioysing and the greate delight that the comen
people had at this concorde and peace finall, I should reherse many thynges that yeu
•would be weried both with the readyng and hearyng.
DVRYNG the season that these, ii. kynges thus lay in Paris, there was a greate asseble
•called, aswell of the spiritualtie as of the nobilitie in the which the two kynges sat as iudges,
before whom the Duches of Burgoyn by her proctor appeled the Dolphin and. vii. other for
the murdre of duke.Ihon her husband. To the whiche appele the cousaill of the other
part made diuers offers of amendes, aswel of foundaciosof priestes to praie for the solle, as
recompence of money to the widowe and children, for the finall determinacio wherof the
kynges toke a farther deliberacion and appoincted a farther day. To the citee of Paris at
this tyme resorted the three estates of the realme, where euery persone seuerally sware vpd
the holy Euangelistes to kepe, support, maintein, and defende the treaty and peace finall
which was concluded betwene the two princes and their counsailes and therto euery noble
man, spirituall gouernor, and teporall rulers set to their seales, whiche instrumentes wer sent to
the kynges treasury of his Exchequer at Westminster, sauely to be kept wher they yet remain.
These two kynges soiornecl in Paris all the feaste of Christmas. The Frenche kyng liyng at
the hous of S. Paule kept no estate nor open court to no man except his houshold seruauntes
and men of base estate frequented his hous. But the kyng of Englande and his Quene,
kepte suche solempne estate, so plentifull a hous, so princely pastyme, and gaue so many
gyftes that from all partes of Fraunce, noblemen and other resorted to his palice to se his es-
tate and do hyrn honor.
THEN the kyng of England toke vpon hym as Regent of Frauce to redresse causes,
remoue officers, reforme thynges that were a misse, and caused a new coyne to be made
called the Salute, wherin wer the Armes of Fraunce and the Armes of England and
Frauce quarterly. And to set all thynges in a quietnes, he constituted sir Gilbert Vmfreuile
capitain of Melun with a good riumbre of valiant souldiers, and the erle of Huntyngdon
his cosyn germain was deputed capitain at Boys de Vincens, and the duke of Excester with.
v.C. menne of warre was assigned to kepe the citee and toune of Paris. When he had thus
ordered his affaires according to his deuice & ordre, he with the quene his wife his princes
and nobles departed from Paris and came to the citie of Roan. But before his remouyng,
he caused proces to be made against Charles called the Dolphyn, comaundyng hym to ap-
pere at the table of Marble at Paris, where for lacke of aperance he was with all solempnitie
in suche a cause requisite denounced giltie of the murther and homicide of Ihon late Duke of
Burgoyue, and by the sentence of the court of parliament he was exiled and banished the
realme and territories of Fraunce, and depriued of all honores, names, dignities and pre-
heminences which lie then had or herafter might haue. Wherefore the Dolphyn went into
Languedoc and after to Poyctiers gettyng to hym suche frendes as he could, and in especiall
he obteigned so highly the fauor of therle of Arminack that he not onely toke his part, but
also releued hyni with money, aided hym with men and in his own persone continually
serued hym against his foes and enemies.
WHILE Kyng Henry soiorned in the citee of Roan, he receiued homage of all the nobles
of Normandy: eroogest whom therle of Stafford did homage for thecountie of Perche, and
Arthur of Britayu did homage for the countie of Ynry, whiche the kyng before had geuen
to them. He also ordeined 1 his liuetenaunt generall both of Fraunce , and Normandy his
brother Thomas duke of Clarence, and his deputie in Normandy was the erle of Salisbury.
When the feast of Christmas (whiche he kepte with all triumphe andsolemptie in his castle
of Roan) was passed, he with the quene his wife departed from Roan to Amies and so
came
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 105
came to Caleis where he toke ship the morow after Candlemas day and landed at Douer,
and came to Eltham and so through Londo to Westminster. Meruel it is to write but more
meruel it was to se, with what ioy, what triumphe, what solace and what reioisyng he was
receiued of all his subiectes, but in especiall of the Lodoners, which for tediousnesse I ouer
passe. And no doubt Englande had greate cause to reioyce at the coming of suche a noble
capitain, so valiant a prince and so mightie a conqueror, whiche in so small space and so
briefe tyme had brought vnder his obeysance the greate & puissant realtne & dominion of
Fraurice. And first to rendreto God his creator tnoste huble & hertie thankes, he caused
solempne processions to be obserued & kept. v. daies together in euery citee and toune :
After that done he made greate purueighance of all thynges necessary for the coronacion of
his Quene & spouse the faire lady Katheryn, whiche was doen the daie of. s. Mathy the.
xxiiij. daie of February, on whiche solepne feast she was coueighed on fote betwene. ii.
bishops vnder a riche canapie fro the greate halle at Westminster to. S. Peters churche, &
there she was anointed & crouned with al y ceremonies to so great an estate aperteinyng or
requisite. After which solepnitie ended, she was again with great pope coueighed in to
Westminster hall & ther set in y throne at the table of marble at the vpper end of the hall :
whose seruice and solepnite who so list to rede let him ioke on the Chronicle of Robert Fa-
bia which declareth it at large.
^ THE NYNTH YERE.
WHile these thynges were thus dooyng in Englande, the du£e of Clarence brother to the The-!«-
kyng and his lieuetenat generall in Fraunce and Normandy, assembled together all the garri-
sons of Normandy at the toune of Bernay, and from thece departed into the countrie of
Mayne, and at Fount degene he passed the riuer of Youe and rode through all the Countrie
to Lucie where he passed the Riuer of Loyre and entered into Aniowe, & came before the
citee of Angiers where he made many knightes, that is to sale, sir William Rosse, sir Henry
Godard, sir Rowlad Rider, sir Thomas Beaufforde called the bastard of Clarence and di-
uerse other, and after that he had forraid, brent, and spoyled the coutrie he returned with
praie and pillage to the toune of Beaufford in the valey, where he was aduertised that a
greate numbre of his enemies wer assembled together at a place called Bangle, that is tosaie,
the duke of Alanson callyng hymself leuetenant generall for the Dolphyn
Therle of Marche in Auerne. The Lorde Buell.
Therle of Merle. The Lorde Gaules.
Therle of Ponthiure. The Lorde of Graueney.
The Vicount Thomars. The Lorde dela Brete.
The Vicount Chasteaulerat. The Lorde de la Faiet Marshall io the
The Vicount Damboyse. Dolphyn.
The Lorde of Egle. The Baron of Coluces.
The Bastard of Alanson. The Lorde Danzebost.
The Bastard de la Marche. The Lorde Vipond Diagosales, capitain
The Bastard of Vandosme. of the Spaniardes
The Lorde Champaine. And of the Scotles whiche were late come
Sir Anthony of Champayne. out of Scotlande to seme the Dolphyn.
The Lorde of Fountayes. Ihon erle of Boghan and Robert his bio
The Lorde of Bellay. ther, sonnes to the gouernor of Scot-
The Lorde Dauerton. lande.
The Lorde Rarnbures. Archibald Dowglas erle of wigto.
The Lorde Tanagny de Chastell. Alexader Lynsay brother to theile of
Sir Ihon Turmyn. Crayford.
The Lorde Dasse. Sir Thomas Swynton,
P Sir
106 ; THE. IX. YERE OF
Sir William Stuard. Sir Ihon Haliburton.
Sir Willyam Doglas. Sir Ihon Crawforth. ,
Sir Ihon Turnebull. Sir William Candey.
Sir Robert Lisle. Sir Ihon Grey.
Sir William Conningham. ^ Sir Ihon Commyn.
Sir Alexander Meldryne. Sir Rober Boence.
Sir Alexander Hume. Sir Archibalt Forbosse.
Sir Ihon Balglauie. Sir Ducane Comine & many other.
Sir Willyam Lisle.
THE duke of Clarence had a Lomberd resorting to hym called Andrewe Forgusa was re-
tained with the part aduerse, of whom the duke inquired the nubre of his enemies, to who
he reported that their numbre was but small and of no strength and far vnmete to compare
with halfe the power of his puissaunt armie, entisyng and prouokyng hym to set on the
Frenchmen, warratyng hym a famous victory and a faire daie. The duke geuen to muche
credite to this traytor, like a valiant and coragious prince assembled together all the horsse-
men of his army and lefte the Archers behynde hym vnder the ordre of the Bastarde of
Clarence and two Portyngales capitaines of Fresnye le Vicount, saiyng that he onely and
the nobles would haue the honor of that iorney. When the duke was past a straight and a
narowe passage, he espied his enemies ranged in good ordre of battaill by the monicion of the
Lombard w niche had sold hym to his enemies, and thesaid aduersaies had laied suche bushe-
mentes at the straightes that the duke by no wayes without battaill could ether retire or flie.
The Englishemen seyng no remedy valiauntly set on their enemies whiche wer foure to one,
the battail was fierce and the fight dedly, neuer wer so fewe men seen more coragiously to de-
fend theimselfes then did the Englishemen that daie they fought and defeded, the slewe and
felled, but it auailed not, for they wer repressed with a multitude and brought to confusion.
There were slain the duke of Clarence, therle of Tankeruile, the Lorde Rosse, Sir Gilbert
Vmffreuile erle of Kent, and sir Ihon Lumley, sir Robert Verend and almoste two thou-
sand Englishemen, and therles of Somerset Suffblke and Perche, the Lorde Fitzwater, sir
Ihon Barkely, sir Rauffe Neuell, sir Henry luglos, sir Willyam Bowes, sir Willyam Long-
ton, sir Thomas a Borough and diuerse other taken prisoners, and of the Frenchemen wer
slain aboue. xij.C. of the best men of warre so that they gained not much. The Bastard of
Clarence whiche taried at Beauford was enformed of the numbre of the Frenchmen, wherfore
he with all the Archers made hast to succor the Duke, but they came to late, for the French-
men, hearyng of the approchyng of the Archers fled with their prisoners with all the hast they
could, leuyng behynde theim the bodie of thesaid duke and the ded carions. When the ar-
chers came and sawe their enemies gone : Lorde howe they mourned & lamented the euell
chance of the deceiued duke, but seyng no remedy, thei tooke the ded bodies and buried
theim all sauyng the dukes corps, whiche with great solempnitie was sent into Englande and
buried at Canterbury beside his father. After this the Englishemen brente and spoyled the
countrie of Mayne and so returned to Alaunson and there departed euery man to his Garrison.
This battail was fought at Bawgy in Aniow on Easter euen in the yere of our Lorde a thou-
sande. CCCC. xxij.
I lament the foly and foolishenes of this duke and I maruell at his vnwitty doyng and
rashe enterprise, that he would aducnture his life and hazard his compaignie leuyng be-
hynde hym the Archers whiche should haue been his shilde and defence : What maie be
said, he desired honor and loste his life, he coueted victory and was ouercome, thus is the
old prouerbe verified which saieth : If shepe ronne wilfully emongest Wolues they shall lese
ether life or fell.
KYNG Henry beyng aduertised of this infortunate chance and deceatfull losse of his
louyng brother, sent without delaie Edmond erle of Mortaigne and brother to therle
of Somerset into Normandy, geuyng to hym like authoritee & preheminence as his bro-
ther the late deceassed duke of Clarence had or enioyed. After that he called his highe
courte
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 107
courte of Parliamente, in the which he declared so wisely, so seriously and with so greate
a grauitie the actes that wer done in the real me of Frauce, the estate of the tyme presente
and what thynges wer necessary for the tyme to come (if they would looke to haue that
lewell and high kyngdo for the whiche they had so long laboured and sought for) that the
comonaltie gladly graunted a fiftene, and the Clergy beniuolently offred adoble dis.me, and
because no delay should be in the kynges affaires for lacke of paiment, the bishoppe of
Winchester his vncle lent to hym. xx. M. pounde, to be receiued of the same dismes. When
all thynges necessary for this voyage wer ready and prepared, he sent his brother Ihon duke
of Bedford with all his armie (whiche the Frenchmen write to be. iiii. M. men of Armes
and. xx. M. Archers and other) before hym to Caleis. And he himself shortly after in the
middle of May passed the seas and arriued there in greate triuphe, where to hym was
shewed that the Dolphyn with. vii. M. men had besieged the toune of Chartiers whiche was
manfully defended by the Bastarde of Thyan and other set and apoynted there by the
duke of Excester. Kyng Henry not myndyng to lose so faire a toune, with all his Armie de-
parted in good ordre of battaill toward Paris, and at Mostreull there receiued hyrn the duke
of Burgoin, whiche fro that place attended on the kyng to Dowast in Ponthiew and so came
to Abbeuile, and after the kyng tooke a toune of sir laques of Harecort called la Ferte,
and there the duke departed from the kyng for a sixe daies prornisyng on his honour by that
daie to returne, the kyng of Englande passed forwarde by Beauuoys Gisors, and from
thence came to Boys de Vincens where he founde the Frenche kyng and his Quene, whom
he louyngly saluted and they him again honorably receiued and highly feasted, and thel'her
came accordyng to his appoyntment Philip duke of Burgoyn, where was daily consultyng
and he wisely deuisyng howe to subdue and represse the haultnes and force of the Dol-
phyn, hauyng perfight knowledge that as long as he ether liued or wandered vnbrideled so
long should neuer the treaty and finall peace be obserued, wherefore he and the duke of
Burgoyn apoynted in all the haste to fight with the Dolphyn and to reise the siege before
Charters. The kyng of Englande with all his puyssaunce came to the toune of Naunte,
and thether repaired the duke of Burgoyn with. iiii. M. men, of whose commyng the king
was not a litle reioysed,. but or they from thence departed, they had knowledge arid true
instruccion that the Dolphyn heryng of the puissant army of the kyng, approchyng to geue
hym battail, was reculed with his people toward Towers in Towrayne. Wherfore the kyng
of England incontinent, not onely sent the duke of Burgoyn into Picardy to resist the
malice of sir laques Harcort whiche daily inferred war and caused wast & destruccio in
the same coutrie, but also apointed lames kyng of Scottes to lay siege to the toune of
Driex, whiche so sore by sworde and engins enforced the inhabitantes that after sixe wekes
passed, they deliuered thesame to the kyng of Scottes, to the behofe of kyng Henry his
souereigne Lorde whiche made there of capitain the erle of Worcester and baily there, sir
Henry Mortimer. The king himself remoued from Naut and passed ouer the riuer of
Leyre, folowyng the Dolphyn toward Tours: but he mistrustyng his power and puttyng dif-
fidece in some of his owne flocke fled to Burges in Berrie, and chosyng that place as his
chiefe refuge and surest fortresse bothe for the situacion of the place and also for the fideli-
tie and constancie of the people, determined there to tary till fortune would turne her whele
and loke on hym with some gracious looke or louyng countenaunce, and therfore in a lest
he was comonly called the kyng of Burges and of Berries. The kyng of England with all
his puissance so fast folowed the fliyng Dolphyn, that vitail began to faile, and horssemen
waxed scante: so that he consideryng that Burges beeyng the Dolphyns onely succoure and
refuge, beeyng well vitailed and well manned was more profitable and auailable to the de-
fender, then to hym that should make the assaute, wherfore he willyng to sane his people
from famyne whom he knewe to be from the dente of the Frenche sworde clerely exempt
and vntouched, returned ouer the riuer of Leyre and gat Gasconeis vpon Youne, and a
toune called the kynges Newe toune, and diuerse other whose names nowe to reherce were
more tedious then pleasaunt. But he seyng the toune of Meaux in Brye not to bee a toune
P2 re-
108 THE. X. YERE OF
replenished with enemies, in the middest of his new gotten subiectes determined to take
away the open scruple whiche might poyson and infecte the membres dwellyng hard by,
wherfore he with these nobles folowyng besieged the said citeeof Meaux.
Therle of Worcester. The Lorde Ferreis of Chartley.
Therle of Yury. Tlie Lorde Botreux.
Therle of Bravon. The Lorde Clynton.
The Lorde Clifford. The Lorde Harryngton.
The Lorde Forniuall. The Lorde Willoughby.
The Lorde Louell. . The Lorde Fitzhewe, the kynges Cham-
The Lorde Awdely. berlaine.
The Lorde Seynt Mawre. Sir Ihon Germayne.
The Lorde Deyncort. Sir Ihon Fastolffe.
The Lorde Zouche. Sir Lewes Robsert.
The Lorde Morley. Sir Willyam Gascoyn.
The Lorde Fanhope and his sonne whiche Sir Robert Harlyng.
died there. Sir Willia Philip & diuerse other.
THIS toune was no lesse vitailed then manned, and no better manned then fortified, so
that the kyng of Englande could nether haue it to hym deliuered at his pleasure, nor he
could not gayne it by assaut without his greate losse and detriment Wherfore he determi-
ned not to depart til he had ether gained or subuerted the toune. Duryng this siege was
borne at Wynsore on the dale of. S. Nicholas in Nouember the kynges sonne called Henry,
whose Godfathers were Ihon duke of Bedford and Henry bishop of Wynchester, and
laquet Duches of Holad was Godmother, wherof the kyng of England was certefied liyng
at this siege of Meaux. Whe he was aduertised of this good fortune and happie chaunce
that God had sent him a sonne, he gaue thankes to his Creator or redemer for the geuyng to
hym so goodly an ympe which should succede in his croune & scepter. But when he heard
reported the place of his natiuitie, whether he fantasied some old blind prophesy, or had
some foreknowledge, or els Judged of his sones fortune, he sayd to the lord Fitzheugh his
trusty Chamberlein these wordes. My lorde, I Henry borne at Monmoth shall small tyme
reigne & much get, & Hery borne at Wyndsore shall long reigne and al lese, but as God
will so be it. After the quene of England was thus deliuered of her faire sonne she re-
turned into Fraunce firste to her husbande, and after to her father and mother where she was
on all partes so honorably receiued, so louyngly entertained and so highly feasted that she
appeared to be no lesse loued of her noble husbande then of her naturall parentes.
f THE TENTH YERE.
xhc. x. DVYyng the tyme of this siege, sir Oliuer Manye a valiant man of warre of the Dol-
phyns part, whiche before was capitain of the Castle of Faloys and yeldyng it by composi*-
cion, sware neuer to bere Armure against the kyng of England, assembled a great nuna-
bre of men of warre aswell of Britons as Frenchemen, that is to saie : The lorde Mount-
burchicr, the lorde of Coynon, the lorde of Chastelgiron, the lorde Tyntignace, the
lorde Dela Howssay and diuerse other whiche entered into the coutree of Constantino
in Normandy, and robbed and killed the Englishmen where thei might ether espie or
take theim at their auauntage: but therle of Suffolk keper of those Marches hearyng of
their doynges, sent for the lorde Scales, sir Ihon Aston bayly of Constantine, Sir Wil-
lyam Halle, t>ir Ihon Banaster and many other out of the Garrisons within that terri-
tory, whiche encountered with their enemies at a place called It Parke Leuecgue in
English the bishops Parke, ther was a sore and a long fight, many a propre feate of
Armes was done that daie and many a man was in that place ouerthrowen, the Englishmen
onely desired victory, and the Frenchmen desired a safe returne, but in cdclusion the French-
men beyng not able to withstand the charge that was laied to them began to flic, in which
conflict and flight wer slain, the lorde Coynon, the lorde of Castell Giron, and three hun-
dred
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 105
dred other and there wer taken prisoners, the lorde Dela Howsay and sir Oliuer Manny
and. Ix. other. The kyng being aduertised of this good chance and happy iorney, sent sir
Oliuer Manny to hym liyng before Meux, to whom he saied, faire father you haue sworne
and promised vnto vs that you would neuer make war nor beare armure against vs nor our
subiectes, ye are an ancient knight and ought to haue kept your faith and promise, whiche
you haue vntruly and vnhonestly broken and violate, and yet we wolle not (although by the
lawe of armes we might lawfully so dooe) put you to death but graunt to you your life, but
we wolle sende you into Englande to lerne you to speake Englishe, and so shortly after he
was sent to London where for very shame & mere Malyncoly he died and was buried in the
White Friers.
THE Scottes write (beleue theim if ye will) that the kyng of England hearyng that the
Dolphyn had sent for aide into Scotland and that he had retained theim in wages (for of
their owneabilitie they bee nether able to send an army ouer the sea, nor yet of substaunce
to beare a continual! warre, for this all their owne histories declare and their Chronicles
make mencion, and yet the countrie is not so poore but the people be as proude) sent one
daie for lames the Scottishe kyng and in the presence of his cofisaill declared to hym .vhat
humanite, what fauor and what synguler affection kyng Henry his father bare duryng his
naturall life toward thesaid kyng of Scottes: Puttyng hym in remembraunce of the great
loue and manifold gratuites which he himself sithe the beginnyng of his reigne had exhi-
ted and shewed to the same kyng lames, that neither he nor his father had any thyng neg-
ligently omitted whiche ether might apperteigne to the office of a frcnd or to the dutie
of a tutor whiche should loue and cherishe his Orphane or pupile, promisyng hynt
libertie with a greate rewarde if he would cause the Scottes whiche wer adherentes to the
Dolphin to returne again into their countree and natiue region. To the whiche request the
kyng of Scottes with a veryfreshe herte answered saiynjr: what your noble father hath done
to me & what fauor & benefite I haue receiued at your handes, I shall not nor will not
when I maie (I assure you) forget, and when my power shall serue I shall not faile to re-
compence your dooynges with like kyndnes. But of your request I maruell not alitle, first
consideryng that I am a prisoner and haue no possession of my realme, secodairely that I
am as yet nether sworne to my subiectes, nor they by no oth of allegeance are bofid to
obey my comaundemetes: wherfore I desyrc you no more to moue me in this thyng which
BOW I canot do, & yet if I might I would fyrst forese whether it wer to me honorable oc
to my realme honest to leue our old frend in his extreme necessitie without ayd or cofojt.
With this answer the kyng of England was not cotent (as the Scottes say), but after kinw-
lames departing fro his presence, kyng Henry saied, happy shall they bee whiche shalbe sub-
iectes to suche a kyng that is endued with suche wit and wisedome at these yongycres of a^e..
THE kyng of England liyng styl before the toune of Meux in Brye as you haue heard
sore bet the walles with ordinance & cast dounebulwarkes and rampeyres on euery syde of
the toune, and sore oppressed them within the toune, wherof hearyng the lord of Ofiemond,
•with a copany of chosen persons set by the dolphyn, came priuely in the night to the walles-
anS set vp a ladder and diuers of his company mounted vp and entred into the toune, and as
he passed ouer a plancketo come to the walles he fell into a deepe ditche, the Englishemen.
hearyng this noyse ranne to the ditche where they toke the lord of Ofmount & sle\ve diuers-
of his company whiche stode at defence. The capitaine within the toune perceiuymr
that their succours were taken, playnely iudged that the toune could not long continue,
wherfore they caused all the goodes of the toune to be conueighed into the market place,
which was strong and well fortefied. The kyng of England beyng therof aduertised, co-
maunded in all hast to geue an assault to the toune, whiche was quickly done, so that the
toune by fine force was within thre houres taken & spoyled. And the same day the kyng,
besieged round about the sayd Marketplace, and toke the mylle adioynyng to" the same*?
The capitaines perceiuyng in what case they were, fearyng to be taken by assault, began to-
treat with the kyng of Englande, whiche appointed the earle of Warwike and the lord Hun-
ger ford;
MO THE. X. YERE OF
.gerford to comen with them & in conclusicion a treaty was taken, and so the toune and Mar-
ketplace with all the goocies, were deliuered into the kyng of Englandes handes the. x. day
<of May, in the yere of our lord M.CCCC.xxii.
WHEN the deliuery of the strong toune of Meaux was puhlished thorough the coun-
trey, al the tounes and fortresses in the Isle of Fraunce, in Lannoys, in Brye, and in Cham-
paine yelded them selues to the kyng of England, which appointed in them valeant capi-
taines and hardy souldiours.
AFTER that kyng Henry had thus taken and possessed the toune of Meaux and other
fortresses at his pleasure, he returned againe to Boys de Vyncennes where he founde the
French kyng & the queue & his wife which with all ioye him receiued, and so the. xxx.
day of May beyng the vigile of Pentecost, the. ii. kynges and the quenes returned to Paris,
•wher the kyng of Englad lodged in the castle of Loure, and the Frenche kyng in the house of
sainctPaule. These two kynges kept great estate with their quenes at this high feast of Pen-
ticost, but the kyng of England (as Enguerant both confesseth & diuers other sayth) kept
such a glorious estate and so costly a court that he with his quene sat at diner in Paris
richly adorned in vestures and with dyademes of gold garnished with precious stones & decked
with luelx bothe radiant & pleasant: beside this his princes & estates, barons, chief capitaines,
& valiant men of warre wer set in solempne estate plenteously serued and aboundantly
feasted, that the people of Paris whiche thither resorted to behold his magnificat estate,
Judged him to be more like an emperor, then their kyng (which sat ^solitary alone) to be like
a duke or a poore Marques. But Enguerant (as I sayd) although he confessed the truth,
yet goeth he about to blemishe the glory of king Henry, allegyng that Englishemen were
feasted and the Parisians were not once bid drinke, whiche was not the custome of the
Frenche kinges court in so solempne and triumphant daies. I am somwhat sory that kyng He-
ries seruantes of the seller made not master Enguerant drinke, which then was skoler in Pa-
ris, but I more lament y vntrue saiyng & no lesse variable writyng of so famous a clerke
whiche to darken the honor of kyng Henry hath clearely defased the princely estate of his
owne kyng & soueraigne lorde, for he confesseth that kyng Charles with his quene kept a so-
lemne house within his court of saint Paul, to whose palice no man in maner resorted,
but euery French creature was ioyus to view and se the estate and magnificence of kyna
Henry. If he haue written true, then must this nedes folow that no subiect reioysyng or
hauyng comfort of their owne prince and natural lord wyll leue him desolate & alone, and
folowe a straung potestatand seke relief at a forein princes house and table. If the French-
men came to wonder at the estate of the kyng of England, then was their princes estate
base and not worthy to be regarded : if the Parisiens came to se the princely ordre of his hous-
hold, then was it manifest that their soueraigne lord kept but a mean family: if the poore
peisantes came thither for vitaile and fragmentes it appeareth that their soueraigne lord had
a cold kychyn: if they did not all drinke in the kyng of Englandes house, either they were
to euil ruled or to vile & lothsome to haue any gentle entertainment in so honorable a court
and noble a family, and therefore Enguerat because he drankenot, euill reported the estate
of the English court as he comonly doth in al other matters.
THE dolphyn knowyng by his espials wher the kyng of Englad & his power lay, came
with al his puissance ouer the riuer of Leyre and besieged the toune of Cosney or Conny
and sent parte of his arm to waste and destroye the confines of the duchy of Burgoyne, to
the entent to deuide the power of the kyng of Englande from the strength and force of the
duke of Burgoyn, and as he purposed, so it happened for the duke of Burgoyn with his pow-
er to set forwarde to defend his owne lande & dominion and wrote to the kyng of England
to send ayd to the of Cosney or Conney, whiche had promised to rendre their toune to the
dolphyn, if they wer not rescued by the kyng of England within, x. daies. Kyng Henry
hearyng this newes answered that he would not send one creature, but he would go before
him selfe. And so withal diligence came to the toune of Corbel and so to Senlys, where,
whither it were with the heate of the ayre, or that he with his daily labor were febled or
6 weakened,
.KYNG HENRY THE. V. ill.
weakened, he began to wax sick.e, ye and so sicke that he was constrained to tary and to send
his brother the duke of Bedford to perfonne his iorney and enterprise.
THE duke like a valiant capitayne set forwarde to reskue the toune besieged, wherof hear-
yng the dolphyn with al his capitaines & hardy souldiours departed thence into Barrey to his
great dishonor and lesse gaine, & so was the cytie of Cosney or Coney reskued to the
great honor of the Englishe nacion. In the meane season kyng Henry wexed sicker and.
sicker and so was layd in a horselitter and conueighed to Boys de Vyncens to whom shortly
after repaired the dukes of Bedforde and Gloucester his vncles, and the erles of Salsbury
and Warwike, who the kyng louyngly entertained and embrased: and whe they seyng him.
in so great an agony and excedyng payne began to wepe and bewaile his paineful paines
and greuous malady, He with a constant inynde without any outward shewe either of
sadde countenaunce or sorowe comforted and encouraged them to be mery and ioyous.
But when the crisis of his sicknes was past and that he perceiued that hellh was ouercome
and had lost the victory, he rendred to God his most heartie thankes, for that chiefly that
he called him out of this miserable life at suche tyme when he was of most perfite remem-
braunce bothe towarde God and the world and also in the time of his florishyng coquest,
in the whiche he had neuer receiued misfortune, euil chance, or spot of dishonor : And1
turning him self to his brethren and other noble personages sayd to them. My natural
brethren and trusty fredes, I se you lament, I perceiue you bewaile my death approchyng
and fatall ende at hand of the whiche I am both glad and reidyce, for this short tyme and
smal tract of my mortal life, shal be a testimony of my strength, a declaracio of my lus- ' rc '"'
tice, and a settyng furth of all myne actes and procedynges, and shall be the cause that I
by death shal obteine fame, glorye and renoume, and escape the reprehension of coward- .
nes, and the mote of all infamy, whiche I might haue chaunsed to falle into if nature had j
lenger prolonged my life or daies: for it is commonly sayd, that as tyme chaungeth, condi- '
cions alter, and in long time al thinges continue not in one estate. But as eternitie is the
triumpher vpo tyme, so do- 1 trust after this short life to haue an eternal beyng, and after
this miserable pilgrimage, mine hope is to enioy the celestial kyugdome, and to come to
the place of rest and palice of quietnes.
NOWE as touchyng you (no doubt but this my sodaine chaunce molesteth your heartes
and disquieteth your senses, and not without a cause, you lament the calamitie mid mis-
chaunce that is like to fall on your countrey because that 1 in this troublous worlde and
tempestious season Icue you destitute of a gouernour and ruler whiche chance is the lesse
to be moned and regarded, because in all worldly thynges some thing euer lacketh and
nothing long endureth: wherfore because the olde saiyng is, that in tyme of necessitie wit
and wysedome be proued, I require you to consult, study and take paine to come to the
ende of the iorney whiche I in my tyme haue begon and entered in, & chiefly because I
haue euer loued and trusted you aboue all other persons, I require and desire you nowe-
to shewe like loue and be as trusty to my sone that shalbe your soueraigne lord, so that
•whatiioeuer duty, allegiance or fauor for my liberalitie or kindnes to you shewed, was to*
me either of honestie or ciuilitie due or owyng : let the same for rny sake be extended, shew-
ed and recompensed to mine heyre & successor litle prince Henry. Some persons haue
hated the father & yet haue loued the child and some haue loued the father and numbered
the child, of which sort I neither reken nor accompt you, but this I say, if you loue me,
you ought to loue my child, not for his desert, but for myne, and sith now I shalbe taken,
from you before satisfactio or recompence made to me for my manyfolde goodnes and ample
benefites to you shewed in my life I say & affirme that after my death (excepte you be noted;
with the blot of ingratitude, I will not say vntrueth) you ought to render the same to my
child your nephue or kynsman, I pray God that you do not defraud me^ of the good e*-
pectacion that I haue euer had of you. And because I will not charge you, I wyl frendly
exhort you to bryng vp my lytle infant in vertuous liuyng, moral doctrine, and prudentv
pollicye to thentent that by your paine he may proue wise, by your, instruction, he may.
prou*
1!2 THE. X. YERE OF
prone pollitike and by your ethicacion he may be able to rule a kingdome, and not to be
ruled of other: by the which deuoier you shall not onely do your dutie to your prince and
soueraigne lorde, but also meriteand deserue thankes of your natiuecountrey to the which
you be both bound and obliged. Beside this my peticion is not onely to cofort my most
Herest and welbeloued quene and espouse now beyng (as I thinke, the most dolorus and
pensiue woma liuyng) but also to loue her and honor her as I haue both loued and honored
you.
AND as touching the estate of my realmes, Fyrst I c5maund you to loue and ioyne
-together in one leage or concord and in one vnfained ainitie, kepyng continual peace and
ainitie with Philip duke of Burgoyn. And neuer make treatie with Charles that calleth
him selfe dolphyn of Vyen, by the whiche any part either of the croune of Fraunce or of
the duchies of Normandy or Guyan may be appaired or diminished. Let the duke of Or-
leance and the other princes styl remaync prisoners til my sone come to his lawful age, lest his
returning home again may kindle more fier in one day then may be well quenched in thre.
If you thinke it necessary I would my brother Vmfrey should be Protector of England
duryng the minoritie of my child, prohibiting him once to passe out of the realme. And my
brother of Bedford with the helpe of the duke of Burgoyne I wyll shall rule and be regent
of the realme of Fraunce, comaundyng him with fyre and sworde to persecute Charles call-
yng him selfe dolphyn, to thentent either to bryng him to reason & obeysaunce, or to dryue
and expel him out of the realme of Fraunce admonishyng you to lese no tyme, nor to spare
ilo cost in recoueryng that whiche to you is now offered. And what thynges either I haue
gotten or you shal obtaine, I charge you kepe it, I comaund you to defend it, and I desire
you to norishe it : for experience teacheth that there is no lesse praise to be geue to the ke-
per then to the getter, for verely gettyng is a chaunce and kepyng a wit. Wei I fele that
cLath draweth neare & I shal not long tary, therfore, I comit my solle to God, my loue
to my frendes, my sinnes to the deuil and my body to the earth.
THE noblemen present promised to obserue his preceptes and performe his desires, but
their heartes were so pensiue & replenished with doloure that one without wepyng could
not beholdc the other. Then he sayd the seuen Psalmes and receiued the blessed Sacra-
ment, and in saying the Psalmes of the passion completed his dayes and ended his life the
last day of August, in the yere of our lord. M.CCCC.xxii.
Thcdiscrip- Til IS Henry was a kynjr whose life was immaculate & his liuyng without spot. This kymj
tionotkvng . J, ii n i i o e i- j • M-L- • • • • °
Hemythe. w^s a prince whom all men loued £ ot none disdained. Ihis prince was a capitame against
*'• whom fortune neuer frowned nor mischance once spurned. This capitaine was a shepherde
whom his flocke loued and louyngly obeyed. This shepherd was such a Justiciary that no
offece was vnpunished nor friendship vnrewardecl. This iusticiary was so feared, that all
rebellion was banished and sedicion suppressed, His vertues were nomore notable then his
qualities were worthy of place, for in strength and agilitieof bodye fr5 his youth fewe were
to him coparable : for which cause in wrestlyng, leapyng and runnyng no man almoste
durst with him presume, in castyng of great yron barres and heuy stones, he excelled co-
monly all men. No coldemade him slouthfull, 'nor heat caused him to loyter, and when he
most labored his head was vncouered. He was no more wery of harnesthen of alight cloke.
Hunger and thirst were not to him noysome. He was neuer aferde of a wounde nor
neuer sorowed for the paine. He neither turned his nose from euill sauoure, nor fro smoke
or dust he would not close his eyes. No man could be founde more temperate in eatyng and
drinkyng, whose diete was not to delicate, but rather mete for men of warre than for vir-
gyns Enery honest person was permitted to come to him sittyng at his mele, and either secretly
or openly to declare his mynd and intent. High and weightie causes aswel betwene men of
warre & other he wold gladly hear, and either determined the him selfe or comitted the to
other to geue sentence. He slept very lytle and that onely by reason of bodely labour &
vnquietncs of mynde, fro the whiche no small noyse could awake him, insomuche that when
his soukliers either sang in the nightes or their minstreles played that all the campe sodded of
1 their
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 113
their noyse, he then slept most solidly. His courage was so constant and his heart so vnnut-
tuble that lie cast away al feare, and dread fro him was banished. If any alarum wer made
by his enemies, he was fyrst in arm n re and the fyrst that would set forward. In the time of
war he gat knowledge, not onely what his enemies did, but what they sayd and entended, so
that al thynges to him were knowcn, & of his deuices few persons before the thing was at the
point to be done should he made priuie. He had such knowledge in orderyng and guyd-
yng an armve and suche a grace in encouragyng his people, that the Frenchmen sayd he
could not be vaquishcd in battel. lie had suche wit suche prudence and suche pollicie that he
neuer enterprised any thyng before he had fully debated it and foresene al the mayne chaunccs
that might happen : and when the end was concluded, he with all diligence and courage set his
purpose forward. Marueilcit is to heare howe he beyng a prince of honor, a prince of youth,
a prince of riches, did continually abstain fro lasciuious liuyng & blynd auarice, yea, & in the
time of losse he was no more sad then in the tyme of victory, which constacy few men haue
or can vse: Suche a stable stornacke had he and such a grauitie was geuen in the bottc-rne of
his heart. What pollicy he had in findyng sodaine remedies for present mischiefes, and what
practice he vsed in sauyng him selfe and his people in sodaine distresses excepte by his actes
they did plainly appeare, I thinke it were almost a thyng incredible. What should I speakc
of his bountefulnes and liberalitie no man could be more gentle, more liberal nor more free
in geuyng rewardes to al persones according to their desertes: Saiyng that he had leuer dye
the to be subiect to au^-ice, and that he neuer desired to haue money to kepe, but to geue
and spend. He was mercyful to offenders, charitable to the nedy, indifferent to al men,
faithful to his fredes, and fierce to his enemies, toward God most deuout, toward the world
moderate, and to his realme a very father. What should I say, he was the blasyng comete '
and apparent lanterne in his daies, he was the mirror of Christendome & the glory of his
conntrey, he was the floure of kynges passed, and a glasse to them that should succede. No
Emperor in magnanimitie euer him excelled. No potentate was more piteous nor lordc more
bounteous. No prince had lesse of this subiectes and neuer kyng coquered more : whose lame
by his death as liuely florisheth as his actes in his life wer sene and rcmembred. When his death
•was published among the comen people, incotinet their heartes wer appaulled and their cou-
rages abated, their dolor so tnuche encreased & their wittes were so muche troubled that they
like mad men rent their garmentes and tare their heere, accusyng and blamyng fortune which
had taken away from them so precious aiewel, so noble an ornament & so sure a defence: for
no doubt as much hope as was taken awaye fro the Englishmen, for the gettyng of Fraunce by
his sodain death, so much trust was encreased in the stomackes of the Frenche nacion, hopyng
to recouer their aucientlibertieahd old parentage. For whiche cause some say that he was
poysoned, the Scottes write that he died of the disease of s. Fiacre, whiche is a palsey & a
crape. Enguerant sayeth that he died of S. Anthonies Fier, but al these be but fables as
many mo write. For Peter Basset esquire which at the time of his death was hisrhriberlaiu
affirmeth that he died of a Plurisis whiche at that tyme was so rare a sickenes and so straug a
disease that the name was to the most part of men vnknowen & phisicions wer acquainted as
lytle with any remedy for the same, and therfore euery ma iudged as he thought, and named
a sickenes that he knew, shotyng not nere the pricke nor vnderstandyng the nature of the-
- disease. This kyng reigned, ix. yeres. v. moncthes and. xxiii. dayes & lined not ful. xxxviii.
yeres : he was of stature more then the comen sort, of body lene, wel mebred & strogly
made a face beautiful somwhat long necked, black heered, stout of stomake, eloquent of
tong, in rnarcial affaires a very doctor, & of al chiualry the very Paragone, His body was
enbautned & closed in lede & layde in a charet royal richely apparelled with cloth of gold,
vpon the corps was layd a representacion of his person adorned with robes, diademe, scep-
ter & bal like a kyng, the which charet was drawe with. vi. horses richely trapped with se-
ueral armes, the fyrst with the armes of S. George, the. ii. with tharmes of Normandy, the.
iii. with the armes of kyng Arthur, the. iiii. with the armes of S. Edward, the fift with the
armes of Fraimce enely, and the sixt with the armes cf England and Fraunce, On this Charet
Q gaue
114 THE. I. YERE OF
gaue attendance lames kyng of Scottesthe principal morner, the duke of Exceter Thomas his
vncle, therle of Warwike Richard, therle of Marche Edmond, therle of Stafford Humfrey, the
earle of Mortaine EdmondeBeauft'ord, the lord Fitzhugh Henry, the lord Hungerford Water,
sir Lewes Robsert Burchier, sir Ihon Cornewale lord Fahope, and the lord Crumwel wer the
other morners. The lord Louel, the lord Audcly, the lord Morly, the lord Souche bars the
baners of sainctesand the Baron of Dudley bare the standerd&c therle of Longuile bare the baner.
The Hatchementes \ver borne onely by capitaines to the nobre of. xii. and roud about the
charet rode. CCCCC. me of armes al in blacke harnes £ their horses barded blacke with
the but of their speres vpward. The coduit & ordre of al this dolorous dole was comaiided
to sir Willia. Philip treasorer of the kynges houshold and to sir Wyllia Porter his chief car-
uer and other. Beside this, on euery syde of the charet went. CCC, persons holdyng long
torches, and lordes bearyng baners, banerols & penons. With this funeral pompe he was
conueighcd from Boys de Vyncens to Paris and so to Roan, to Abbeuile, to Caleys, to Do-
ucr and so thorough London to Westminster, where he was buried with suche solernpne ce-
remonies, suche mournyng of lordes, such praier of priestes, suche lamentyng of com-
mons as neuer was before that day sene in the realme of Englande.
Shortly after this solempnitie, his sorowful quene returned into England and kept her es-
tate with the yong kyng her sone. Thus ended this noble and puissant prince his most noble
& fortunate reigne ouer the realme of England: whose life although cruel Atropos before his
tyme abbreuiated, yet neither fyre, rust, nor frettyng tynne shal amongest Englishmen ether
appall his honoure or obliterate his glorye whiche in so fewe yeres and brief dayes achiued so
bighaduentures and made so great a conquest.
If The ende of the victorious actes of kyng Henry the fift.
THE TROBLEOUS SEASON OF KYNG
HENRY THE SIXT.
The,i.y€K. TTVEath the determinate end of mannesh'fe, and of all yearthly thynges the finall poynfr
JLJ and pricke, whiche fauoureth nether Emperour nor spareth kyng, but at his plesure
confoundeth riche and slaieth poore, rnbodiyng the solle of this godly prince this marcial
capitain and renoumed flower, not onely dismaied and appalled the hertes and corages of
the Englishe nacion, but also pufte vp and encoraged the myndes and stomackes of the
Dolphyn and his proude people: The one parte thynkyng, the kepyng of Normandy and
other dominions to hym gayned to bee v«ry dangerus, The other part trustyng the farther
coquest in Frauce not onely to be doubtful), but to their iudgementes apparantly impos-
sible : Yet the politike Princes and sage Magestrates of the realme of England well remem-
bryng thynges that vver passed, and sagely ponderyng the tyme present, but moste of all
prudently iorseyng chaunces iminent and perels at hand, to thentent to set the membres of
the body stedfast vnder the hedde, -Whiche as shepe without a sheperd far from the folde
might wandre and straie at large, caused yong prince Henry, the sole orphane of his noble
parent kyng Henry the fifth, beyng of the age of. ix. moaethes o» there about with the
sound
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 115
f*- *•'
sound of trumpettes openly to be proclaimed kyng of Englande and of Fraunce the. xxx.
daie of August, in the yere of our lorde. M. cccc. xxii. by the name of kyng Ilcry the
sixt, to the great reioysyng and comfort of all the Englishe nacion.
AND the custody of this young prince was apoyncted to Thomas duke of Excester, and
to Henry Beaufforcl bishopp of Wynchester: the duke of Bedford was deputed to be Re-
gent of Fraunce, and the duke of Gloucester was assigned Protector of Englande. Whiche
takyng vpon hym that office, least paraduenture he might herafler repent his actes and
doynges, as a man remembryng other and forgettyng hymself, called to hym wise andgraue
counsailers, by whose aduise he prouided and ordeined for all thynges whiche ether re-
dounded to the honor of the realme, or seined profitable to the publique welth of the same.
And when he had set in an ordre al matters concernyng the inward affaires of the realme
of Englande, he prouided farther all thynges necessary and conuenicnt for war re and far-
ther conquest in Fraunce, and appoyncted valiant £ expert capitaines whiche should be
ready when oportunitie of tyme required. Beside this, he gathered great somes of money
to maintein the men of warre, and left nothyng forgotten that might let or hynder his pur-
posed enterprise.
WHILE these thynges were thus deuised within the realme of Englande, the duke of
Bedforde Regent of Fraunce, no Icsse studied then toke payne, not onely to kepe and or-
dre the countrees and regions by kyng Henry late coquered and gained, but also deter-
mined not to leue of from daily warre and continuall trauaille till the tyme that Charles the
Dolphyn (whiche was now a flote, because kyng Charles his father in the moneth of Octobre
this present yere, was departed to God,) wer ether subdued or brought to dewe obeysance.
And surely the deth of this kyng Charles caused many alterations & chaunges in the realme
of Fraunce, fora greate parte of the nobilitee whiche ether for feare of the puissance of the
Englishemen, or for to please and folowe the mynde and appetite of Charles the Frenche
kyng, toke parte with kyng Henry against the Dolphyn: Heryng now of the French kynges
death, returned from the English part and adioyned themsclfes to the companie of the Dol-
phyn, and diligently studied how to vanquishe and dryue awaie the Englishe nacion out of
the territory of Fraunce.
THE Duke of Bedford beeyng greatly moued with these sodaine chaunges, fortified his
tonnes bothe with Garrisons and municions, and assembled together a great armie bothe of
Englishmen and Normans, to whom he made a long oracion, admonishyng them to obserue
and kepe their othe & faith (whiche thei had made to the late kyng Henry and his heires)
inuiolatc and vnbroken, willyng them in no wise to be the occasioners or counsaiiers that
young kyng Henry should be depriued from his fathers lawful inheritance, by the hatred of
certayne traitors Frenchemen which had renewed the old hatred byyng of late extinct betwene
the realmes of Englande and of Fraunce, and studied to set all thynges again in a broylc:
requiryng them also to call to their memory how that the realmes of Englande and of
Fraunce, thetwoo moste famous regios of all Europe, by the benifite of almightie God, wer
of late so vnited connexed & ioyned together in an eternall league and composicion, and .so
strogly established that no worldly power wer able or of puissaunce sufficient, to resist or
withstande the malice of the same: And although sometymes by chauncc of warre the losse
n)ighte turne on their part, yet in conclusion the detriment should be recouered and a sur-
plusage gayned. And if (according to their bounden duties) they would honor seruo and
loue young kyng Henry their soneraigne lorde, and would diligently persecute & set on hi*
enemies, thei should not onely shewe thcselfes true and faithful'l subiectes to their true and
vndoubted kyng: But also should for their fidelitie and good seruice receiue of hym condigne
rewardes, ouer and beside immortall fame and renoune.
THIS exhortacion staled the hertes of many of the Frenche capitaines, whiche wiilyngly
sware to Kyng Henry feaultie and obedience by whose example the comonaltie did thesame.
Thus all the people set in an ordre in the realrne of Fraunce, nothyng was rnynded but
warre and nothyng was spoken of but of conquest. The Dolphyn whiche lay at this tyme in
Q 2 tint
116' THE. II. YERE OF
the citee of Poytiers heryng of the death of his parent had his herte mixed bothe with ioye
and sorowe: for notwithstandyng that he was sorowfull as a naturall child which lamented
the death of his father, yet he wasioyous that power & princely estate was now to hyin hap-
pened by the whiche he iudged that he should be the nflore able to defend his enemies and re-
couer more frendes: £ socallyng together the Princes of his faccion, caused hymself to bee
proclamed Kyng of France by the name of Charles the. vij. And the beyng in good hope of
recoueryng his patrimony & expellyng his emnies, with a haut corage prepared war & as-
sembled together a great armie, and first the war began by light skirmishes, but after it pro-
ceded into main battailes.
THE Dolphyn thynkyng not to make long delayes in so greate a cause, lest the power of
his enemies might daily be augmented, sent the lorcle Grauile to the toune of Fount Me-
lance stadyng on the riuer of Seyne, whiche so sodainiy came, to thcsame that he was on the
walles or the souldiors within heard of his approche, and so he toke the toune and si ewe a
greate nombre of the Englishe souldiors. When the Reget of Fraunce was aduertised of
this sodain enterprise, he apoyncted the Lorde Thomas Montaculc erle of Salisbury, a
nmnne bothe for his greate pollicie and haute corage more to be compared to the old valiant
Romans then to men of his daies, accoropaignied with the erle of Suffolke, the lorde Scales,
the yong lorde Pounynges, sir Ihon Fastolffe master of the houshold with thesaid lorde Re-
gent, and diuerse other to besiege the toune of Pont Melance, which after two monetheswas
rendered to thesaid erle, and the lorde of Grauile sware to be trew to the Kyng of Englandc
euer after that dale, but shortly after he forgettyng his othe returned to his old master again.
The erle of Salisbury apoynted sir Henry Mortimer and sir Richard Vernoti to be capitaines
of that toune. And from thence departed into Champaignie and ther besieged the toune of
Sens and toke sir Guillam Maryn the capitain and slewe all the souldiors within the toune,
and made there capitains sir Hugh Geddyng and sir Richard awbemond.
THE Parisians whiche euer like the Wethercockebe variable and inconstant, perceiuyng
that the Dolphyn daily began to haue more aide and power then he was before accustomed,
trustyng to returne again vnder his obeysance and subieccio (whiche they bothe wished and
desired) to the1 intent that it should not apere to come of their desire and that their faith and
fidelite should not be put in the balance of diffidence with the Englishe nacion, sent diuerse
Senators of their citee as Ambassadors to the kyng of Englad, desiryng hym of aide and suc-
cor, to whom not onely greate thankes were rendered for dooyng their dutie of subieccio, but
also hi«h feastes wer made, and promises declared that if they stil continued in clue obeysance,
and wcr not adherent to the kyngss enemies, y neither succour should want, nor cost should
be spared for their comencofort and publike vtilite. With whiche answer the copaigny out-
wardly pleased (whatsoeuer they inwardly imagined) departed to Paris. In this season
Humfrey duke of Gloucester either blynded with ambicion or dotyng for loue, married the
lady laquet or lacomin doughter and sole heire to William of 1/atiier duke of Holland,
which was lawfnll wife to Ihon duke of Brabant then liuyng, whiche mariage was not onely
woundered at of the comon people, but also detested of the nobilite, £ abhorred of the
Clergie. But suerly the swete last, of this pleasant mariage, brought after a sower saucev
bothe to the amorous housbande, and to the wanton wife. For Ihon duke of Brabant,
what with force, and what with spirituall compulsaries, neuer left of, till he had recouered
his Lady out of the Duke of Gloucesters possession, as after you shall here.
If THE SECONDE YERE.
The. n. THese chauces thus happenyng as you haue heard, Ihon duke of Bedford, Philip duke
yere> of Burgoyn, £ Ihon duke of Britayn, made an assemble £ frendly enteruiewe in the citee
of Avnias, where they renewed the olde league and auncient amitie made betwene the noble
prince kyng Hery the fifth, and them, before concluded: addyng tlierto these codicious and
agrementes, eche of them to be to other bothe 1'rend and aider, and the enemy of the one
to
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 117
to bee enemy to the other, and a!l they to bee bothe frendes and aiders to the kyng of En-
glande, and well wyllyng to his wehvillers, and auengers of his aduersaries. And because
that affinitie is an em bracer of amitie, there was concluded a mariage betwcne the duke of
Bedford and the lady Anne sister to the duke of Burgoyn. When tiiese agrementes wer fi-
nished, the Regent departed to Troys in Chapain, whether with high pompe was conueighcd
the lady Anne of Burgoyn, whicbe in the presence of her brother and her Vncle duke of
Brabant, and of therles of Salisbury and Suffolk'e, and of. ix.C. Lordcs knightes and
esquires, she was maried to Ihon duke of Bedford with suche solempnitie, feste and triiiphe,
as before that tyrne had not been seen of the Burgonions.
DVRYNG this triumphe, the Parisias thin kyng to blind the iyes of the duke of Bedford
wrote to hym, how diuerse Castles & fortresses liyng rounde about their territory, wer re-
plenished with his enemies, daily stoppyng their passages, and robbyng their marchantes, to
their vtter vndoyng, if they by his helpe wer not relieued: fraudulently meanyng, and falsely
entisyng hym to absent hymself from theim, till their craftie conueighed purpose wer compassed
and achiued. For diuerse of them stubbernly bcryng the yoke and subieccion of the En-
glish nacion perceiuyng the duke of Bedforde and the principal! capitaines of the Englishmen
to be farre from Paris, emploiyng themselfes to ioy and solace for the honor of this high ma-
riage, conspired to bryng into the citee Charles the Dolphyn callyng hymself Frenche kyng1,
duryng the tyme of his absence. And to thentent that their inueted purpose should succede,
they therof aduertised the Dolphyn and his counsaill appoyntyng the daie of his comyng
and the post of his entre. But no treason is commonly hiclen nor no sedicion long vnreueled,
for Pies will chatter and Mice will pepe, but by whom I cannot declare: The Regente was
informed of all the secrete confederacy and sedicious faccio, wherfore he meanyng not to
lose in short tyme, that whiche in no small space was gaynedj put epurres to the horsse, and
n-ith a great power entred into Paris one daie before the faire was appoinced, and two
nightes before the iokyng for of his enemies, who boyng vnprouided he sodainly caused to
be apprehended and taken, and openly put to execution. After this Jeopardy thus escaped,
he putle diffidence in all the Parisians trustyng litle the nobles and geuyng lesse crtditc to the
comons, determined to fortific the Garrisons of his owne nacion and all the Castles nere
and adioyning to the citee, whiche within small tyme were habundauntly furnished. And to
auoyde all nighte watchers adioynyng to Paris and the confines of thesame, he first toko
into his possession ether by as?aule or cornposicion the toune of Traynel and Bray vpon
Seyne, and because two Castles the one called Pacy and the other called Cursay were also
euill neighbors to the Parisians, he sent sir Ihon Fastolffe great Master of his houshold,
with a notable army to besiege the Castle of Pacy, whiche takyng vpon him that enterprise
so handled his enemies that the capitain named (iuyliam Reymon esquire & all the garrison
yelded them simply to his mercy and discrecio whom he sent as prisoners to the citee of Pa-
ris, and after besieged the Castle of Coursay whiche to hym was shortly rendered vpon like
appoyntmer, and so with praie and prisoners he returned to the lord Regent his master. In
this very season the Dolphin sent lorde Willyam Sluard Constable of Scotland, and therle
of Vcntadore in Auergnc and many other nobles of his part to laie siege to the toune of
Crauat in the coutie of Anxerre within thepartesof Burgoyn, wherof heryng the lorde Re-
gent and (.he duke of Burgoyn thei assembled a greale arrnie, wherof was ordeined capitaine
the erle of Salisbury, accompanycd with these valeant parsonages.
The lorde Willoughby. Sir Ihon Grey.
The lorde Pownynges. Sir Reignold Grey.
The lorde Molyns. Sir Ihon Arthur.
Sir Thomas R,ampston. Sir Henry Bisset.
Sir William Oldhaule. Sir William Hey tow.
( Sir Ihon Passheley. Sir Richard Leke.
Sir Thomas Flemyng. Sir Gilbert Halsall.
Sir Edmond Heron. Sir Lancelot Lisle.
Thomas
118 THE. II. YERE OF
Thomas Aborough. Didon Amore.
William Glasdale. Richard Ap Madocke.
Mathew Gough. Dauy Loyd.
And of the Burgonions.
The lorde Sent George. The lorde of Crouy.
The erle of lonignye. The lorde Lisle Adam.
The erle of Brayne. The lorde of Pesines.
The lord of Castelyn .Marshal of Bur- The Bastard of Thyan.
goyne. Sir Frances le Arragonoys.
The lorde of Vergier his bastard. Ihon de Gyngie.
The lorde of Chastelon.
AND many other to the numbre (aswel of Englishemen as Burgonions) of. xv. M. men
of warre, which came in good array to geue battaill to the besiegers of the toune of Cra-
uant, and because the liiuer of Youne which renneth by thesaid toune was betwene the
Englishe army and their aduersaries, they could not wel assaile their enemies which de-
fended the bankes and passages very strongly, yet notwithstandyng bolhe horsmen at.d fote-
inen of the Englishe part coragiously put tiiemself into the riuer and with fyne force re-
couered the banke, whom the Burgonions incontinent folowed. When they wer all gotten
into the plain, the Archers shot and the bilruen strake, & long was the fight in indifferent
judgement, but in conclusion the Frenchmen not able to resist the force and abyde the
puissance of the English nacion, wer take ether slain or discomfited, for in the morlall bat-
taill were slain and taken to the numbre of. viii. M. men, where of the names of the chief
capitaines here shall apere.
Frenchemen slain. Scottes slain.
Therle of Lestrake. The lorde of sent Ihons toune.
Therle of Comygen?. Sir Ihon of Balgrarie.
Therle of Tunier. Sir Ihon Turnebull.
The iorde Coquartde Cameron. Sir Ihon Holiburton.
The Bastard of Annynacke. Sir Robert Lile.
The Vicont of Towraye. Sir William Conyngham.
The Bastard of Forest. Sir William Douglas.
The lorde de Port. Sir Alexander Hune.
The lorde Memoriicie. And xviii. hun- Sir Willyain Lisle,
dred knightes and esquiers beside co- Sir Ihon Rocherforde.
mons. Sir William Cawford.
Taken prisoners. Sir Thomas Seton.
The Constable of Scotland whiche lost Sir William Hamolton and his sonne Ihon
his iye. Pillot.
Therle of Vantadore. And. iii. M.. Scottes slain.
Sir Alexander Meldryne. Of Englishemen.
Sir Lewes Ferigny. Sir Ihon Grey.
And. xxii. C. gentlemen of the Frenche Sir Wylliam Halle,
nacion taken. Sir Gilbert Halsel.
Richard ap Madocke.
and. xx i. C. other slaine.
AFTER this fortunate victory obteined, the Englishemen fyrst gaue great laudes and
thankes to almightie God and after entered into the toune of Crauant muche pi aisyng the
tloynges of the capitaines and the fidelitie of the citezens, and when they had set all thynges
in an ordre they returned to Paris where of the regent they wereioyously receiued, whiche
there constituted therle of Salsbury (as he was wel worthy) vicegerent and lieftenaunt for
the king & him in the countries of Fraunce, Bry and Chapaigne, & sir Ihon Fastolf he
substituted deputie vnder him in the duchy of Normady on this syde the riuer of Seyne, &
capitaines
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1 19
with that he deputed him gouernour of the coutreys of Aniow & Mayne, and assigned able
capitaines in euery holde & fortresse. Therle of Salsbury whichc could not slepe in his
great office of trust, layd siege to the toune & castle of Moutaguillon in Dry, wherof were
capitaines Pregent of Cotyny & Guille Bourgoys Britons vvhiche valiantly defeded the castle
by y space of v. monethes, but incoclusion the assailantes wer so fierse that they within for
sufegard of their Hues rendred the hold, & the capitaines sv.-arc neuer to here armure
against the Englishmen on this, side theriuer of Leyre: duryng which siege the erle of Suf-
folke toke by force the castle of Coucy : and the strong castle de la roche he gat by appoint-
ment in Mosconoys.
NOWE must I go backe to put you in memorye howe lames kyng of Scottes beyng bothe
prisoner in the tyme of kyng Henry the fourth and also as subiect to kyng Henry the fift
his sone, seruyng him in his warres in Fraunce tyl he departed out of this transsitory life at
Boys de Vyncens and so as chief morner attended on the corps of the sayd deceassed vnto
his burial, and after at Westminster was released of his captiuitie and restored to hisreahne
and possession. For the true knowledge therof you shal vnderstande that Englande de-
maunded a small raunsome for so great a prince as the Scottes accompte their kyng : (and
the Scottes were neither able nor offered no summe conuenient) wherfore the coiisel of the
realme of England grauously pondtrsd and wisely considered that if by coniunction of
manage, England and Scotland were perfectly knit in one, that the indissoluble band of
amide betwene the Frenche and Scottishe nations should be shortly broken and dissolued.
Wherfore the protector of the realme of Englad by the consent of the whole baronage of
the same gaue to him in mariage the Lady lane doughler to Ihon earle of Sommerset des-
ceased, not onely sister to Ihon then duke of Sommerset but alsocosyn germayne remoued
to the kyng and nece to the cardinal of Wynchester and the duke of Exceter.
THE kyng of Scottes hauyng great affection to this i'ayre Lady, but rnuche more desiryng
his deliuerance and libertie, put in hostages for the residue of his raunsome because a great
part therof was deminished and abated for the money allowed to hym for his mariage, & so
was deliuered to depart at his pleasure. Alacke, the olde prouerbes bee to true : an Ape
although she bee clothed in purple, will be but an Ape, and a Scotte neuer so gentely en-
terteined of an Englishe prince will be but a dissimulyng Scotte. What kyndnes could be
more shewed to a prisoner then to bryng hym vp in good litterature. What loue maie bee
more declared to a captiue, then to instructe hym in marciall feafes and warlike affaires:
What fauor can be more ascribed to a high and renoumed prince, then to geue in mariage;
to his vnderlyng and vassall his cosyn and kinswoman of his royal parentage lawfully dis-
ecnded. All these kynd-nesses suffised not, nor all these gratuities auailed not to make this-
kyng lames frendly to the realme of Englande. For he notwithstandyng his homage doen-
to the young Henry kyng of Englande and of Fraunce at his Castle of Wynsore this pre-
sent yere, before three Dukes, twoo Archebishoppes, xii. erles. x. bishoppes. xx. barons,.
and twoo hundred knightes and esquires and mo, accordyng to the tenor here after lbloyn<*.
" I lames Stuart kyng of Scottes, shalbe true and faithfull vnto you lorde Henry by the
grace of God kyng of Englande and Fraunce the noble and superior lorde of the kyngdome
of Scotlande, and vnto you I make my fidelitie for the same kyngdome of Scotlande, whiche-
I holde and claime to hold of you, and I shall beare you my faithe and fidelitie of life
and lymme and worldly honor against al men, and faithfully I shall knowledge and shall
do to you seruice due of the kyngdo of Scotland aforesaid. So God help me and these
holy Euangelistes."
NETHER regardyng,his othe, nor estemyng the great abundance of plate and- riche
Clothes of Arras, to hym by the mother and vncles of his wifc liberally gcuen and frendly
deliuered (of which sorte of riches fewe-or none before that daie wer euer seen in the
coutrey of Scotlande) like a dogge vvhiche hath cast vp his stomacke and retnrneth to his
vomet, or like a snake whiche after his engenderyng with a Lampray taketh again his old;
poyson: After ha had once taken the ayre and snielled the sent of the Scottishe soyle be-
1 came
loo THE. III. YERE OF
-,•'»'• x
came like his falce fraudulct forfatbers, an vntrue prince and like his proude pratyng pro-
genitors toko llie y mage of a braggyng and bostyng Scot, newly alicd hy nisei f with the
Frenche nacion. And yet what soeuer he did, his nacion botiic write and testitie, that by
the learnyng whiche he by the greate benetke of the kynges of Englimde duryng liis cap-
tiuitee in this rcalme had obteigned, replenished his countrey with good litterature, and by
tlie nurture the whiche he was brought vp in Englnd, he brought iiis people to ciuilitee: So
That hiscaptiuitee was to his nacion the greatest hbertie thatcucr thei could haue, dcliuering
them from blyncle ignorance to Angelicke knowledge, reducyng theirn from bestiall inaners to
honest behauor, and in conclusion causyng theim to knowe vertue fro in. vice, pollicic from
rudenes, and humain honestie from sauage liuyng. Thrs was the deliueranceand the doynges
of- lames the fyrst of that name k'yng of Scottes, whiche neither reigned verye quietly, nor
yet euer fauored Englishemen before the Frenche people : sauyng that he hauyng with him
into his countrev a yong gentleman of Northumberland called Andrew Gray (whiche du-
ryng his captiuitie was his companion) promoted him to the manage of the heyre of the
lorde of Foulcs in Anguis, of the whiche the lord Gray of Scotland at this day do des-
cend.
1f THE. III. YERE.
The. iii. NOw leue I the doynges of Scotland, and returne to the affaires of England. The duke
y"e> of Gloucester beyng protector and gouernor of the realme, cosideryng that wood must be
rninistred to kepe fyre, and men ought to be set to set forwarde war, called to him the
pieres and nobilitie of the realme, and by their agrements & deuises, sent into France to
the regent his brother, x. M. men of warre, whiche were of the same regent in the coutrey
of Paris louyngly receiued, & according to their degres honestly entertained. Duryng their
liyng in Paris, diuers chaunces happened in Fraunce, for euen as Englishmen valiantly
wonne, and victoriously coquered tounes and castles with open warre and apparant con-
quest: so the Frenchmen fraudulently stale & couertely obtained diuers fortresses and
holdes appcrtainyng to thcnglish faccion, £ in especial the fayre toune of Compaigne, &
the prety toune of Crotoy.
WHEN the duke of Bedford was aduertised of these craftye trickes and sodaine inuent-
ed traines, he sent furth an army, fyrst to Compaigne, wherof was capitaine the erle of
Suftblke accompanied with therle of Liguy, & diuers other capitaines of the Englishmen,
whiche lay on the one side of the riuer of Sohame, & on the other side lave the lord Lisle
Adam, sir Thomas Raupstone, & the prouost of Paris. The Erechmen beyng strongly fur-
nished and well vitailed, coragiously defended the toune against the assailates. The Eng-
lishmen perceitiyng that Guyllifi Remond otherwise called Mariolayn, had bene the leder
of the souldiers within the toune, which before at Pacy was take prisoner by sir Ihon Fas-
tolf, caused him to be sent for to Paris, and so brought him to the seige, and set him in a
chariot with a halter aboute his necke, and coueighed him to the gibbet without the toune,
sending worde to the garrison within the toune, that if they would not without delay redre
the toune & fortresse, they would incotinent stragle their old capitaine and chief conduc-
tor. The souldiors within the touue perceiuyng that if Guyllia Raymond the onely trust
of their relefe, and the aucient frend in their necessitie, should suffre death, that then their
hope of al ayde were extinguished, £ the sure nutriment of their liuyng was from them
secluded: for the deliuerance of him and sauegarde of them selues, yelded the toune: so
that both he & they might depart with horse and harnes onely, in sure conduite and safetye:
yet long or the toune of Compaigne was deliuered, sir Philip Hall whiche was sent to Cro-
toy by the lorde regent with. viii. C. men to besiege the toune, gat it by assault sodainly, or
the Frenchmen had either desposed their garrison, or appointed their lodgynges and toke all
the men of warre and put them to raunsome. And so these, ii. tounes cowardly stollen,
were manfully recouered, but yet the writers of Frenche fables to deface the glorye of the
4- Englishmen)
*
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 121
Englishmen, write and say that these tounes were yelded to the Burgonyon0, whiche nei-
ther had the kepyng of them nor were souldiers to any other person but to the kyng of
Kngland. While these thinges were thus doyng in Fraunce, sir Ilion de la Pole brother to
therle of Suffolke capitaine of Auranches in Normandy, assembled all tlie garrisons of the
base Marches of the coiitrey of Aniow, & came before the cytie of Angiers and brent the
subbarbes, spoyled and destroyed the whole countrey, and hauyng as many prayes anxl pri-
soners as his men might cary, he was eacountred by the earle of Aubemerle, the vicount
Karbone and. vi. thousand Frenchmen: \\hiclie findyng the Englishmen out of arraye be-
cause of the cariage of their great spoyle, sodainly set on the and slewe. CCC. persons and
toke prisoners the said sir Ihon Delapole, sir Ihon Basset, Ihon Aut'ord luetenaunt of Fa-
loys, Ihon Clyfton, Henry Mortymer and. vi. C. other. Although the Frenchmen gat this
day in one place, yet they wet not victorious away in another, for the bastard de la Baulme
and the lorde Craignar capitaines of Courallon with a great band, made a roade into Mas-
connoys, with whom by chance met Mathew Gough and other Englishemen whiche were
scouryng the countrey to se and hearenewes of their enemies, there was a sore conflict and
an hard encountre, the partes in maner beyng of corage & noinbre cgal, but after long
fight, the Frenchmen almost al wer slaine & taken, and the bastard beyng wel horsed fled •
after whom folowed with the tiersneS of his spurres Mathew Gougli and chased him to his
castle gate and there toke him as he would haue hid him in the diche & preseted him to
the earle of Salsbury, returnyng from Compaigne to Paris, whiche not onely gaue to him
the rightes beloging to the prisoner, but also rewarded him with a goodly courser and highly
exalted his name and manhode.
ABO VTE this season, Arthur brother to Ihon duke of Britaine comonly called the earle
of Kicheinond, hauyng neither profile of the name nor of the countrey, notwithstadyng
that king Henry the. v. had created him earle of Yury in Normandy & gaue him not onely
a great pencion but thesame tonne of Yury; yet because his brother the duke of Brytaine
fearyng the Englishmen nowe hauyng Normandye would srncl and desire to last the swete
soyle of Britaine, was late (contrary to his leage and othe) returned to the part of Charles
the dolphyn, he likewise returned and craftly without cause fled into Flaunders & so came to
the dolphyn to Poytiers, which was more g'ad of his comyng then if he had gained a C.M.
crounes, for the Britons which kept the toune and castle of Yury hearyng that their master
•was ioyned witii the dolphyn bothe kepte the castle against the duke of Bedford, furnishyng
it dayly with new people £ municions, and also infested, spoyled and robbed the countrey
adioynyng, doyng to the Englishmen the most hurt & damage that either could be deuised or
imagined.
THE lord Regent beyng aduertised of all these troubles & calamities, assebled a great
army both of Englishmen and Normans, entendyng to serche the dolphin in euery part, to
theient to geue him battail in a pitched feld and so to make a final ende of his entended con-
quest. So hauing in his companye therle of Salsbury, therle of Suffolke, the lord Scales,
the lord Willoughby, the lord pounyng, sir Reynold Grae, sir Ihon Fastolf, sir Ihon Salu-
ayne, Lanslot Lisle, sir PJn'Jlp Halle, sir Ihon Pashely, sir Ihon Gray, sir Thomas Blunt,
sir Robert Harlyng, sir William Oldhal and many other valiant knightes and esquiers to the
nombre (as the Frenche writers testifie) of xviii.C. men of armes and. viii.M. archers and
other, came before the toune of Yury whiche was well defended: but the Englishemen
began to vndermine the walles, so that they within wer glad to rendre the toune vpo condicion,
whiche was taken. Howbeit the capitaines of the castle promised to yeld if their fortresse
wer not rescued at a day assigned by the dolphyn with a nomber sufficiet to raise the siege,
& vpon this promise hostage^ wer deliuered into the possession of the lord regent. By his
licence an herault was sent to the dolphyn to aduertise him of the tyme determined, the
whiche hearyng of the destresse that his people & frendes wer in, sent incontinent Ihon duke
of Alanson his lieftenant general, therle Doglas whom at that settyng furth he made duke of
Toraine, and therle Boughan, whom then in hope of good spede he made Constable of
R Fraunce
128 THE. III. YERE OF
Fraunce (whiche office he enioyed not fully an hundreth houres) and therles of Aumarle,
Vatadoure, Tonnerre, Maulieuricr Forest, the vicountesof Narbonand Thouars, the lordes
ofGraiiile, Gaules, Malycorne, Manny, Ball ay, Fountaines, Mountfort, & many other noble
knightes and esquiers to the nombre of. xv.M. Freche men & Britons and. v.M. Scottes whom
the erle Doglas had transported late out of Scotland more for nedc then for loue.
THIS army royal approched within, ii. miles of Yury and sent. xl. light horsmen to view
and espy both the nornbcr and coduit of the Englishmen. These spyes came very nere to the
siege and \ver espied and chased to their copanions againe, and declared all what they had
seen and perceiued. The duke of Alanson seyng that he could not gette any auantage of the
Englishemen (although the Dolphyn had geiien hym in straight comaundement to fight with
the-regent) whether his heart fayled or he thought to wayte a more fortunate season for his
purpose and enterprise, retired backe with his whole arruy to the toune of Vernoyle in
Perche whiche belonged to the kyng of England, & sent word to the garison of that toune
that they had discofited & slaine al the Englishe army and that the regent with a small nober
by swyftnes of his horse had saued him selfe. The inhabitantes of Vernoyle geuyng to light
credit to the Frenche fablers, receiued the duke of AlFison with al his army into the toune &
submitted theselues to him, Whiche toune he desyred to haue of the gift of thedolphynas
his owne inheritance & lawful patrimony. Now approched the day of rescous of Yury,
which was the day of our Lady the Assumption, at which day no rescous appeared to sir
Gerrard de la Pallier captain of the castle, whiche beyng in dispayre of all ayde and corn-
forte, presented the keys to the duke of Bedford & shewed him a letter signed & sealed with
the hades of. xviii. great lordes which the day before promised to geue the duke battaile and
to dissolue the siege and raise the assault: Well sayd the duke, if their heartes would haue
serued, their puissaunce was sufficient ones to haue profered or to haue performed this faith-
ful promise. But syth they disdaine to seke me, God and saint George willyng I shal not
desist to folowe the tractes of their horses tyl one part of vsbe by battail ouerthrowen: and
so he gaue a safe conduyte to the capitaine and other which wold depart, but many of the
Britons within the castle of Yury seyng the faint heartes and the false promises of the flatter-
yng Frenchmen submitted them selues to the lorde regent and sware to be true to the kyng
and him, whom he gentely accepted and put them in wages. Then he furnished the castle
and toune with a newe garrison, and incotinent he sent the earle of Suffolke with. vi.C.
horses to espy wher the Frenchemen were lodged, whiche passed by Dampeuile, and came
to Bretnel wher he beared newes that the Frenchmen had taken Vernoile in Perche & were
there yet abidyng, wherof with all diligent celerite he sent worde to the duke of Bedford,
which not mindyng to lese his long desired pray set forward in great hast toward his enemies.
The FrF'chtnen hearyng of his comyng set their people in array and made all one maine bat-
taile without forwarder rereward, & appointed certaine Lubardes and horsmen to breake
the array of the Englishemen either behynd or at the sides, wherof was capitaine sir Stephyn
Venoylcs called the hire. The duke of Bedford not ignorant howe to ordre his men, made
likewise oneentier battaile & suffered no man to be on horsebacke, and set the archers (euery
one hauyng a sharpe stake) bothe in the front of the battaile and on the sydes like wynges,
and behvnd the battaile were the pages with the charlottes andcariages, and all the horses
were tyed together either with the reines of their bridles or by the tayles, to thentent that
their enemies should not sodainely surprise or disturbe them on the backe behynd : and for
to defend the carriages wer appointed two thousand archers. The Frenchmen at the fyrst
sight remembryng how often times in piched feldes they had bene ouercome and vanquished
of the Englishe nacion, b.egan somewhat to feare, but when they sawe no remedy but to
fight, they toke good courage to the and set softely forwarde. In whiche marchyng the Duke
of Alaunson, sittyng on horsebacke saied to his capitaines.
Oradon of LOVYNG companions, and hardy souldiers, call to your remembraunce, how the Eng-
.0 lishemen haue not onely gotten from vs the noble isle of Fraunce, the duchies of Normandy
and Aniovv, but also sith their enterprise and cenquest hath bothe slain our parentes and
I killed
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1*3
killed our frendes, yea, and hath dritien our naturall Prince, and very soueraignc Lorde
from his chief habitation and surest chaumber, the faire citee of Paris: which act neuer
Pagan durst attept or euer any prince was able to acheue. Besides this, you se that the
duke of Bedford Regent here for the kyng of Englande, entendyng n-othyng more then the
deposicion or the destruccion of our kyng and his nobilitie, and in tinall coclusion to bryng
to extreme bondage all vs ourwiues and children, and all the people of this so long renoum-
ed region, by many hundred yeres called the reahne of Fraunce, which is as muche to
saie as a fre countrey, or a franke lande. Alas, shal your kyng now be made a subiecte,
shall your peres and nobiliteebee made vassals, and you also slaues & bondmen to a foraiu
nacion r Where is the liberty of Frauce and where is the auncient fredome? When you
defended your fraunchises, and when your hartes seruedyou: your kyng ruled kynges your
prioeis possessed the empire, and your nacion subdued Germany, conquered Italy, and
ouercame the proude Spanyardes. Shall wee now, fallyng out of kynd from our fathers,
feare the puissaunce of the arrogant Englishemen, beyng men of no forecast, nor of
no excellcnte wit, long in gettyng and shortly lesyng? AVill you now sufifre the olde glory of
Fraunce to be put in obliuion? will you haue an Englishe infant, whiche liueth with pappe
to bee your kyng and gouernor? Will you liue in seruitude of a barbarous nacion in whom
is neither bountifulnes nor honor? Clerckes saie, that the greatest plague, that euer God
scourged with the Israelites, was, when he permitted them to be caried from their natiue
countrey to the bondage of Babilon, where they liued in captiuitie by the space of many
yeres. What can bee a more greater scourge, then to haue a forrein ruler in a free region ?
What dishonor can there be more to a countrey, then to haue the nobilitie put backc from
rule and to be gouerned by strangers. Beleue me, beleue me, it is to vs all one blot, to bee a
slaue in Turkeye, vnder theTurkishe bondage, and to be a free man in France vnder the Eng-
lishe libertie. Of this point you be sure: if they gain this battaill, thei be not vnlike to obtain
the whole region: whiche if thei get, then is the enheritaunce theirs: then be all the riches
theirs, and then all the people bee their subiectes. If they be rulers, fare well the franke and
Frenche libertie: If they be lordes, welcome English seruitude. So that now we stand
al on this poynt, either to be free or bondmen. Whiche terme of bondage is so detested of
all nacions, that there can be no more reproch to a man then to call hym a villain or a
bondman. Therfore manly defence must onely withstand this mischief, and hartie corage
must driue back this imminct plage. This is the daie either of our deliueraunce out of vile
seruitud-e, or the daie of our entry into the vale of bondage. The conclusion of this battaill
is very doubtfull, for if we bee vanquished, the gain for our side is almost without recouery,
cosidryng, that here be the best men, & wisest capitaines vnder our kyng: And if we get
the vppcr hancle, our heddes shalbc free and out of the Englishe yoke. And although the
duke of Bedford hath here with him, all the power that he can gather on this side the sea,
yet I assure you, (God willyng) I will not turne one fote backward for fear of hym, or his
picked armie. Therfore I exhorte you to reuiembre, your wifes, your children and your
selfes. Figtft manfully and sticke eche to other for the libertie of our countrey: I doubt not
but the victory shalbee ours, and the honor shalbe our kynges. For if this daie we vanquishe
hym and sparcle his armie, we shall so diligently folowe Fortunes good grace, that not onely
Fraunce to vsshall'yeld, and Normandy bowe, but we shall recouer again al our citees and
tounes, whiche out of our possession wer gained, before any aide can come to rescue out of
the poore isle of Englande. Now consideryng, that we hang in the ballaunce betwene honor
and shame, libertie and bondage, gaineor losse, leteuery man take harte and corage to hym,
litle regardyng, or caryng, eit.ier for death, or the force of his enemies, and with a manly
countenaunce marche furth toward our foes.
THE Englishemen perceiuyng their greate nornbre, and knowyng that the chief strength
consisted in the Scottes, began somwhat to stay and consult, what was mosle expedient to
bee done. The duke of Bedford sittyng on a baye courser in the iniddes of the battaill vnder
124 THE. III. YERE OF
a baner curiously beten with his Armes, not content with their whisperyngcs and protract-
yng of tyme, saied vnto theirn with an audible voyce.
Y"OV valiaunt capitaines and hardie souldiers, my louyng compaynions in artnes, and
frcndly felowes. If you cosidre with your self what daie this is: What honor and what
profile wee shall get by our trauaile and pain, I doubt not but where you now stand stil
musyng, you would runne furth a galloppe, and where you run on your fete, you would,
if you had winges, flieas faste, as euer did llauke to his praie. For greate is the honor that
is gotten with paine, and swete is the lucre, that is gayned with trauaile, for you muste re-
membre, that nothyng is wel done, if it growe not to a good conclusion: and a thyng were
as good neuer to be begon, as neuer ended. My brother our late soueraigue lord, (whose
soule God pardon) hath entred into this countrey, as into his awne lawfull inheritaunce:
and first conquered Normandy, and after by agremet of kyng Charles the vsurper, he was
by assent of the nobilitee, agrement of the Clergie, & speciall request of the cornmonaltie,
restored to his rightfull inheritaunce, and lawful patrimony, whiche by his death is returned
and come to my nephewe our rnoste redoubted souereigne. The beginning of this conquest
was good, and the sequele better, yet resteth the finall knot to be knitte, and the last locke
to be shut vp. For if we sutlre Charles the Dolpbyn, whiche now vsurpeth the name, and
estate royall of this real me of France, to proceade farther in his purpose, or to gather more
puyssance, or allure more people, I cannot tell then what feates flatteryng fortune will worke:
and of this I am sure that if we suffre his fier still to flame, as it hath begon, we shall haue
skant water to quenche out the same. Here he hath assembled all the Frenche men that he
can get and for lacke of aide, he hath retained the Scottes : croppe hym now at the beginnyng
and he shall growe no more: let hym grow farther and he will passe our reache: discomfite
hym now and bryng our conquest to a conclusion: let hym alone now and we shalbe new
to begin. Therfore I say, it is wisdome to take occasion, when the hery side and not the
balde side is profered. If we feare the multitude, rememhre our awne victories, which
we haue euer obteined by lesse nombre, and not by the greater. If we feare death, remem-
bre the glory and immortall fame, that shall succeade of our valiaunt actes, if we sell our
lifes so dere. If we shalbe slain, considre I haue a kyng to my nephew, and a duke to
my brother, and twoo noble vncles, and you haue frendes, kynsemen and children, whiche
wil reuege our death, to the vttermost poynt: therfore I saie let euery man this day do
his best. For this is the daie of thed of our great trauaile, the daie of our greate victory,
and the daie of our euerlastyng fame : Therfore good felowes, put your onely trust in God,
call to hym for aide boldly, and marche forward hurdly, for our enemies be at had.
HE had skace ended his exhortacion, but the Englishmen beyng incouraged with his pru-
dent persuasion, sette on their enemies, criyng, Sainct George, Bedford. And the Frenche-
men likewise cried, Moutioye, sainct Denise. Then the arrowes flewe out of the long bowes
on the one parte, the quarrelles out of the crosse bowes on the other parte. After thei came
to hande strokes: greate was the fight, & terrible was the batfaill, with so indifferent Judge-
ment of victory that no heraulde could determyne to whiche parte Fortune moste shewed
her louyng countenaunce. For on bothe sides men wer slain and wounded, and on bothe
partes some wer felled and recouered, thus stil in a doubtful Judgement, the battaill conti-
nued about three houres. The duke of Alauson in the meane season neuer ceased to ex-
horte and praie his people manly to fight, and not to suff're their enemies, (whiche wer at the
very point to be ouercome) by their faint hartes to be victors, and ouercommers. Likewise
the duke of Bedford rode about his annie, refreshing the weake with freshe men, and enco-
ragyng his people with moste plesaunt wordes: But at the last when he perceiued the Frenche-
men, what with heate, and with trauaill, to waxe wery and faint, and- not to bee so freshe as
thei wer before (for surely 'the nature of the Frenchmen, is not to labor long in fightyng,
and muche more braggeth then fighteth) he with al his strengtli set incontinent on them with
tuche a violence, that they bare theim. doune to the grounde by fine force. The French
horsemen
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 125
horsemen that dale did litle seruice: for the archers so galled their horses, that they desired not
mticiie to approche their presence. This battaill was fought the. xxvij. day of August, in the
yere of our Lorde. M. CCCC. xxv. in the vvhiche battaill wer slain.
Of Frenchemen. of the murtherars, of the duke of Bur-
The erle of Aumerle. goyne.
The erle of Ventadore. Of Scottes also wer slain.
The erle of Forestes. Archibald erle Douglas made duke of
The erle of Mary. Toroyne.
The lorde Granite, lames Douglas his sonne erle of Nigton.
The lorde Gaules. Ihon the erle of Boughein newly made
The lorde Fountaynes. Constable of Fraunce.
The lorde of Amboys. Sir Alexander Meldryne.
The Vicount Thouars. Sir Henry Balglauie.
The lorde Mountcney. Sir liion Sterlyng.
The lorde of Combreste. Sir William of Homelsdone.
The lorde of Brunell. Sir larnes Graye.
The lorde Tumblet. Sir Robert Kanden.
The lorde of Poysy. And thre hundred Sir Alexander Lynsaie.
knightes beside. Sir Robert Stewarde.
The, Vicouut Nerbon whose body was Sir Robert Swinton, and. xxvij. hundred
haged on a gibbet, because he was one Scottes of name and armes, besides
other.
IN this battaill wer slain by the report of Montioye kyng at armes in Fraunce, and the
Englishe herauldes there prcsente, of Frenciiemen and Scoltes. ix. thousand and seuen hun-
dred, and of the Englishmen, xxj. hundred, but no man of name, sauyng. v. yong es-
quiers. And there wer taken prisoners, Ihon duke of Alaunson, the bastard of Alaun-
son the Lorde of Fayect, the lorde of Hormit, sir Piers Harison, sir Loys de Vancort,
Sir Robert Brusset, sir Ihon Turnebull a Scot, and two hundred gentlemen besides
common soldiours.
AFTER that the duke of Bedforde had thus obteined the vpper hand of his enemies, and
discomfited the onely strength of the dolphin he vpon his knees rendred to almightie God his
hartie thankcs, not without effusion of teares. Then he commaundcd all the Frenchmen
within the toune of Vernoile, to go out and depart, or els to abide their adueture. They
perceiuyng the euil successe of their bostyng enterprise, and seyng no meane, wherby in so
lowe an ebbe, they might bee ayded, deliuered vp the toune, and went furthe out of thesame,
their lifes saued. Of which toune the lorde Regent constituted capitain, sir Philip Hall,
and so departed from thence to the citee of Roan, where with triumph (and not vnworthy)
he was Joyously receiued and honorably feasted. And after all thynges there set in an ordre,
he remoued to Paris.
HERE you maie see what succeded of the spirite of false Prophecie. For the duke of
Alaunson thinkyngit to be predestinate by the bodies aboue, that he should ouercorne, and
conquere the duke of Bedford, hosted (as you haue heard) to the Burgesses of Vernoile, that
he had discofited the Regent of Fraunce with his whole armie, before the toune of Yury :
Not knowyng, that Mars the God of battaill beyng angry with his liyng, appoyntedj not
onely all his puyssaunce to be vanquished before Vernoile, but also hymself, and his bastarde
vncle, there to bee taken, and brought into bondage. So it is often seen that he, whiche
rekeneth without his hoste, muste reken twise, and he that fisheth before the net, rnaic lese
but nothyng gain. When this victory was published through Fraunce, how the common
people lamented their miserable destiny, how the nobilitie mistrusted their awne estate, and
how the Dolphyn was abashed, yea, more than abashed, woderfull it were to write, but more
merueilous for to heare. For he was driuen out of all the countreis apperteinyng to the
croune of Fraunce and might resort to no coutreis, excepte to Burbonoys, Aluerne, Berry,
Poyctou,
126 THE. III. YERE OF
"Poyctou, Towrayn, a part of Aniow and Barrayn, & Languedoc. And because diuerse
•of his frendes whiche were aduocates in Paris exiled theselfes fro the parliament of Paris,
which was with all rightes, and iurisdiccions there vnto belongyng, kcple, and holden in the
name of kyng Henry the sixte, as lawfull heire and very kyng of the realme of Fraunce: he
therefore to shewe hymself as a kyng, erected his courte of Parliament, his Chauncery, and
all other courtes in the citee of Poytiers, and there established his greate scale, with all due
circumstaunces thervnto aperteinyng, whiche there continued by the space of. xiiij. yeres, as
you shall after heare declared. The duke of Bedford liyng at Paris, entendyng there to bryng
•to obeisaunce Charles the dolphyn, or els to driue hym out of his litle cony holdes, and small
•countries, set the lorde Scales, sir Ihon Montgomery, sir Ihon Fastolfe, with two thousand
men, to conquere the countries of Aniow and Mayn, whiche without assaulte hud rendred
to the the strong castles of Beamount le Vicot, Teune, Silly, Oste, Courceriers, Rcussy,
Vasse, Couetemenfit and twenty other, which for pfolixitie of tynie, I thynke necessary to
be omitted. For surely the Englishe puyssaunce was so tried, proue'l, assaied, and spred
abrode throughout all Fraunce, that the Frenche me thought that in conclusion the Eng-
lishe men would haue, or should haue al thynges, which they either wished or enterpriscd.
The duke of Bedford yet thirstyng after more good fortune, sent the erle of Salisbury, with
a great armie accompanied with the Lorde Scales, and other approued capitaines, (whose
names you haue heard before) into the countrees of Aniow & Mayn, which w'er euil neigh-
bours to the duchy of Normandy: in whiche army wer. x. M. men of war or ther about.
These lusty capitaines entered iirste into the countrey of Mayne, and beseged the richeand
strong citee of Mauns, the chief toune £ emperie of all that country and region. And al-
though the citezens, aswel for the sodain accesse of their enemies, as for the feare of the
name of therle of Salisbury (whiche was both dread of his enemies, and honored of his
frendes,) wer somewhat amased and astonied: Yet their capitaines named sir Baldwyn of
Champaigne lord of Toisse, sir Guilliam de Marignie, and sir Hugh tie Goos, studied and
inucuted all waies possible how to defend themselfes, and do damage and harrne to their
enenves: and surely, they had within the toune a creive and a compainei of warlike and prac-
tised s juldiors. The Englishmen approched as nigli to the walles as they might without their
losse and detriment, and shot against their walles great stones out of great gonnes (which
kynd of engines before y time, was very litle seen or heard of in Fraunce,) the strokes wherof
so shaked, crushed and riued y walles, that within fewe daies, the citee was dispoyled of all
• her toures and outward defences. The citezens of Mauns muche merueilyng at these newe
i orgayncs, bothe seyng their destruccio iminent, and desperate of all aide and succor, offered
-! the toune vpon this condicion : that all persones whiche would tary within the toune might
Abide, and all that would depart with horsse and harnesse onely, should be permitted:
which offers were accepted, and the toune rendred, wherof the erle made capitain therle
of Stiffolke, and his lieutenant sir Ihon Fastolfe. After this the said erle of Salisbury besieged
the fa ire toune of sainct Susan, whereof was capitain, Ambrose de Lore, a ma of no lesse au-
dacitie then pollicy, accompainied with a greate nombre of hardy men of warre. When the
erle of Salisbury had bothe viewed and seen the siluacion and nature of the place, he de-
termined to assault it in that place whiche was moste weake and worne: and so the trom-
pettes blew to the assault and scalyng ladders were raised to the walles, and the Englishemen
with grcatc noyse began to clime and ascende. The soukliors whiche durste not come out of
the toune to encountre with the Englishe armie, manfully raune to the walles to resiste and
delende the assaylantes. And so all that daie the assault with many aduentures still continued,
and although the inhabitauntes and citezens were sore wounded, they neuer lefte of bothe to
defende theimselfes, and to anoye and hurte their enemies. When therle perceiued that bv
this light assault and slight skirmishe he lost somewhat, and gained nothyng, he made a waft
.and cast a trenche round about y toune: & caused his great ordynance to be shotte at that
part of the wall whiche was most feble and slender, and so daily and nightly he neuer ceassed
to beate and breke doune the wall and toures: so that within twoo daies the moste part of
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 127
the wal was persed and cast doune to the ground. When the capitain perceiued these newe
feateshe began toentreate, and offered for hymselfand his souldiors, twoo thousand crounes,
so that they might departein their doublettes onely: so their Hues wer saued, whjche some
because winter aproched, was taken and the toune yelded. Of the whiche toune he made
eapitain, sir Ihon Popham, a valiaunt and a circuspect knight. After that the said erle be-
sieged the toune and castle of Mayon la luhez, wherin was capitain the lorde of Escotaiz:
whiche toune after the space of fiue wekes was yelded (the lifes of the defenders onely saued.)
To the kepyng wherof he appointed sir Ihon Montgomery knight. And after the feast of
the purificacion of our lady, he besieged the caslle de lafort Barnard: during which siege,.
a sale was made of the toune of Ahinso, beyng in the Englishmens possession by a Gascoyn
£ one of the gariso there, for. iiii.C. crounes, to Charles de Villiefs, Peter le Beuffe, and
other Frenche capitaines. When the dale was apointed of the deliueraunce both of the
toune and the money, the Gascoigne opened and discouered the whole agrement to the erle
of Salisbury : which ordeined the lorde Willoughby and "eir Ihcn Fastolfe with two thou-
sande Englishmen to encountre with the byers of the kyngcs toune of Alvison. At the daie
apointed and tyme assigned, Charles de Villiers chief marchaunt of this riche enterprise, early
in the mornyng with two. C. horssemen, and three hundred footemen approched nere the
toune, and abidyng for the Gascoyne, he there displaied his banner, thynkyng triumphant-
ly to entre into the toune: but it hapened otherwise. For or they wer ware, or suspected
any rescues, they wer enuironed with the English armie, and slain & taken euery creature,
sane Peter Danthenazy and. xxv. other, which by the swiftnes of their horsses saued the
selfes.
AFTER this conflict ended, the lorde Willoughby with his cdpany returned to therle of
Salisbury, before the tonne le Fort Barnard: the capitaines wherof consideryng, that there
was no hope of succor to be sente to theim, and that their vitaill diminished, and that they
were not long able to abide the harde assaultes of the English nacion, rendered the tounc
and castle, reseruyng to them their horsse and harneis onely, which toune tlierle receiued
to the vse of the kyng: But the regent for the valiaunt seruice done by the erle, gaue the
same toune to hym and to his heires for euer. Beside this therle partcly by assault, partely
by composicion, toke diuerse other tounes, as sainct Kales, wher he made capitain, Richard
Gethyne Esquier, Thanceaux Lennitage, where he made gouernor, Matthewe Gough,
Guerlande, of the whiche he assigned ruler, lohn Eanaster, Malicprne, wherof he made
capitain, William Glasdale esquier, Lisle soubz Boulto, wherof was made capitain, sir
Lancelot Lisle knight, Lowpellande, whereof was made capitain, Henry Braunche, Mount-
seur, of the whiche was made Cpnstable, sir WilliFi Oldhall knight, la Susze, was assigned
to the kepyng of Iho Suffolk esquier, and beside this, aboue. xl. castles and piles wer ouer-
throwen and destroyed. When the fame and report of these newcs wer blowen through
Fraunce, some freated, some feared, and some raged for angre: But the veritie of al thynges
beyng by the duke of Bedford declared into Englande, all men reioysed and wer very glad:
not onely for the conquest of so many tounes, but also that God had sentc theim victcry in a
pitched felde, and in a mortall battaill. Wherfore generall processions wer commaunded,
to rendre to God almighty humble and harty thankes, by whose onely gift, and not by power
of man, these notable victories wer gotten and achiued.
IT is not couenient, that I should talke somuche of Fraunce, & omit al thynges clone in
England. Wherfore you shall vnderstand, y about caster this yere, $• kyng called his high'
court of parliamet, at his toune of Westminster, & comyng to the parliament hous he was
coueighed through the citec vpon a great courser with great triiiph, which child was Judged
of all men, not only to haue the very ymage, y liuely portrature, and louelv countenaunce of
his noble parent and famous father, but also like to succede, and be his heire in all morall
vertues, marcial Policies, and Princely feates, as he was vndoubted inheritor to his realmes,
seigniories & dominions. In whiche parliament was graunted to the kyng a subsidy of. xii. .
d. of the pound, towardes the mainteinauuce of the warres, of all m arc haun disc commyng
iutc* i
123 THE. III. YERE OF
into this realme, or goyng out of thesame, besides other somes sette on euery tonne of li-
quor and on cucrysacke of woolle, aswel of Englishe men, as of strangers Duryng wniche
Parliamente came to London, Peter Duke of Quymber, sonne 10 the kyng of Ponvngale,
and cosin germain remouedto the kyng, which of the Duke of Exeester and the bishop of
Winchester his vncles, was highly i'estcd, and liberally rewarded, and was elected into the
noble ordre of the Garter. Duryng whiche season, Edinonde Mortimer, the last Erie of
Marche of that name (whiche long tyme had been restrained from his liberty, and finally
waxed lame) disceased without issue, whose inheritaunce discended to lorde Uicharde Plan-
tagenet, sonnc and heire ;to Richard erle of Cambridge, belicded. as you haue heard be-
fore, at the toune of Southhapton. Whiche Richard within lesse then. xxx. yeres, as heire
to this erle Edmond, in ope parliament claimed the croune and scepter ot this realme, as
herafter shal more manifestly appere. In the tyme of which Parliament also, whether it
were, either for, deserte or malice, or to auoyde thynges that might chaunce, accordyng to a
prouerbe, whiche sailh, a dead man doth no harme: Sir Ihon Mortimer cosin to the said erle
was attainted of treason and put to execution: of whose death no small slaunder arose
emongest the common people.
AFTER all these actes done in Englande, and in Fraunce, Humfrey duke of Gloucester,
with the lady laquet his supposed wife, passed the sea and came to Mons in Henawde,
and there by force tokeall suche landes, as Ihon duke of Brabant her first husband hud in
possession of the said lady laquet, which doyng, Philippe duke of Burgoyne, bevng grcate
frende to the duke of Brabant, muche disdained and more frouned at, and thought for the
olde loue and familiaritie, that he bare to the duke of Gloucester, that he would by frendly
monicion, turne hym fiom his vnhonest and vngodly life, to a reasonable reformation, and
brotherly conforrnitie. Wherfore he wrote louyugly to hym, that he should vtterly leaue of
any further Lo folowe thatnewe attempted enterprise, aduerlisyng hym, and protesting open-
ly, that the vsurpyng and wrongfully withholdyng of another marines possession, was not so
vile and slaunderous, as the deh'lyng of a pure & cleane bedde, and adulteriously kepyng the
wife of his christe brother. The duke of Gloucester beyng in this case very wilful), either
blinded with dotage, or inflamed with coueteousnesse of his wifes possessions, regardyng
neither the admonishement of the duke of Brabant, nor yet the godly aduertisement of the
duke of Burgoyn, sware that he would not leaue of to make farther war, till he had ex-
pulsed the duke of Brabant, out of his wifes seigniories, territories & dominions. Wher-
fore, the duke of Burgoyn assembled together V*;teat armie to make war on the duke of
Gloucester, in the cause & quarel of the duke of Brabant his (Vend and cosyn. The duke,
of Gloucester, partly for great affaires, that then were imminent in the realme of England,
and partly to assemble more people, to resist and withstad the power of the dukes of Bur-
goyn and Braban', left his wife at Mons in Henaude, with the lordes of the toune, whicho
sware to hym, to defend and kepe her against all men, till the tyme of his returne. Wher-
fore he leauyng with her twoo thousand Englishmen, departed to Calice, and so into En-
glande.
WHEN he was gone, the duke of Burgoyn so threatened, so vexed, yea, and almost so
famished them within the toune of Mons, that they deliucred into his possession the lady
laquet or lacomyne: whiche incotinent sent her to Gaunt, wher she disguised her self in a
nianncs apparel, and so escaped into a toune of her awne in Zelande, called Zirice, and fro
thence she was conueigcd to a toune in Holland called Tregowe, where she was honorably re-
ceiucd, & there made herself strong to witlnlande her enemies : And for her succor the Duke
of Gloucester sent to her fiue hundred mg. The dukes of Burgoyn and Brabant left her not
all in quiet, but brent her tonnes in Holland, and slewe her people in Zelande to her greate
detriment and displeasure. But inconclusion, this matter was brought before Martyn the. v.
bishop of Home: whiche adiudged the first matrimony with duke Ihon of Brabant, to be
good and effectuall, and the seconde espousals celebrated with duke Humfrey of Gloucester,
to bee of no value, force nor effecte: and that if the duke of Brabant died, it should not be
4 lawfull
KYNG HENRY THE. VL 129
lawfull to the duke of Gloucester, to niary again with the lady laquet. The duke of Glouces-
ter, obeiyng to this sentence, beganne to waxe lothe of his supposed wife, by who he neuer
had profile butlosse : for whose cause his frendes became hisenemies, & for whose sake he was
openly slaundered. Wherfore he, by wanton affeccion blinded, toke to his wife Elianor Cob-
ham doughter to the lord Cobham, of Sterberow, whiche before (as the fame wet) was hia
soueraigne lady and paramour, to his great slaunder and reproche. And if he wer vnquiet-
ed with his other pretensed wife, truly he was tenne tymes more vexed, by occasion of this
woman, as you shall herafcer plainly perceiue: so that he began his manage with euiil, and
ended it with worse. The Lady laquet after the death of Ihon duke of Brabant, maried a
gentleman of meane estate, called Frake of Bursellen, for the whiche cause the duke of
Burgoyn imprisoned her hou'sbande, and left her in greate trouble: suche was the ende of
these twoo manages.
/
5f THE FOURTH YERE.
A litle before this tyme, sir Thomas Rampstone, sir Philip Branche, sir Nicholas Bur- The, iiii.
deit, and other Englisheiuen to the n ombre of. v. hundred men, repaired and fortified the ^re-
toune of sainct lames de Leitron, on the frontiers of Normandy, adioynyng to Britayn. Ar-
thure erle of Richemondand Jury brother to the duke of Britayn, whiche like an vntrue gen-
tleman, sworne and foisworne to the king of England, sodainly fled to Charles the Dolphin:
whiche mnche reioysyng of his fauor and amity, gaue to hym the Constableship of Fraiice
whiche therle of Boughan slain before at Vernoyl, a small tyme occupied, and lesse space en-
ioyed. This newe Constable not a litle ioyful of his high office, thought to do some pleasure
to y dolphyn his master, & lo aduuuce his name at the first entry into his authoritie, he ima-
gined no enterprise to be to him more honorable, nor to his prince more acceptable, then to
auoyde and driue out of the toune of sainct lames de Beueon, al the Englishe nacion. So
in hope of victory gathered together a boue. xl.M. men, of Britons, Frenchmen and Scottes,
and enuironed the toune of sainct lames, or sainct laques de Beuron, with a strong siege.
The Englishmen within, whiche in nombre passed not vi.C. men, manfully defended the
daily assaultes of the fierce Frenchmen. The Englishemen consulted together what waie
was best to bee taken : and after long debatyng, thei determined to issue out of y toune and
to fight with their enemies. So on a daie, when the Britons were weried with a long assulte,
towardes the euenyng the Englishmen came out of the toune, one part by the posterne of
the Castle, and another part by the gate of the toune, criyng sainct George, Salisbury:
and set on their enemies bothe before and behind. The Frenchmen scyng the corage of
the Englishmen, and hearyng their crie, thyokyng that therle of Salisbury was come to
raise the siege, ramie awaie like shepe, and there wer taken, slain and drouned in the water, •
of them. iiii. thousand men and mo. Beskles this, these ioly galhuUes left behyndc theim
for hast, all their tentes. xiiii. greate gonnes, and. xl. barrelles of pourier. CCC. pipes of
wine, CC. pipes of bisket and fioure, CC. frailes of Figges and resons, and. v.C. barrelles
of heryng.
THE Frenchmen (beyng thus vanquished) fel in diuision emongest theunselfes : the one
laiyng to the charge of the other, the losse of their men and the. cause of their fliyng.
Sucheis euer the chauce of the war, that when victorie is obteined, the moste coward and faint
harted boy will boste and bragge, and when the battaill is loste, the faulte is assigned to the
beste, and not to the wourste. The newe Constabte was sore dismaied & muche ashamed of
this discomfiture and shamefull flight, but there was no remedy but pacience : But to the
entent to blotte out and deface this shatnfull fliyng with a notable victory, he with a great
armie entered into the countrey of Aniowe, and brente, spoyled and destroyed two or thre
at the moste, litle poore thetched villages: Whiche smal acte done, his malice was queched,
£ his old grief (as he thought) victoriously reuenged.
• S IN
130 THE. IIIJ. YFJIE OF
IN this season fell a greate diuision in the realiue of England, which, of a sparcle was;
like to growe to a Create flame : For whether the bishop of Winchester called Henry Beau-
fort, sonne to Ihon Duke of Lancastre, by his third wife, cnuied tlie authoritee of Hum-
freyduke of Gloucester Protector of the realmc, or whether the duke had taken disdain at
the riches and pompous estate of the bishop, sure it is that the whole realm was troubled
with them and their partakers: so that the eitezens of London fearvng that that should in-
sue vpon the matter, wer faine to kepe daily and nightly, watches, as though their enemies
were at hande, to besiege and destroye them: In so inuchc that all the shoppes within the
citie of London wer shut in for feare of the fauorers of those two greate personages, for
eche parte had assembled no small n ombre of peoj)le. For paciliyng whereof, tiie Arche-
bishop of Cantorbury, and the duke of Quymbcr called the prince of Portyngalc, rode
eight tymes in one daie betwene the twoo aduersaries, and so the matter was staied for that
tyme. The bishoppe of Winchester not content with his nephewe the lorde Protector,
sente a letter to the Kegente of Fraunce, the tenor wherof insueth.
" RIGHT high and mighty prince, and my right noble and after one, leuest lord, I
recommend me vnto you with all my harte. And as you desire the welfare of the kyng our
souereigne lord, and of his realmes of England and Fraunce, and your a\vne health and
ours also, so hast yon hether. For by my trouth if you tary, we shall put tin's lande in ad-
uenture, with a felde, suchc a brother you haue here, God make hym a good man. For
your wiscdom knouclh, that the profile of Fraunce stiideth in the welfare of England, &c.
Written in great hast on Alhallow euen. By your true seruant to my lifes ende. Henry
Wynchester."
THE duke of Bedford beyng sore greued and vnquieted with these newes, constituted the
erleof Warwicke, whiche was lately come into Fraunce, with sixe thousande men his lieuete*
minute in the Frenche dominions and in the duchy of Normandy, and so with a small company,
he with the duches his wife, returned again ouer the seas into Englad and the tenth day of
lanuary, he was with all solemnitie receiued into London, to whom the eitezens gaue a
paire of basynnes, and a thousande marke in money, and from London he rode to West-
minster, and was lodged in the kynges palaice. The. xxv. daie of Marche after his comyng
to London, a parliamet began at the toune of Leicester, where the Duke of Bedford open-
ly rebuked the Lordes in generall, because thit they in the tyme of warre, through their
prkiie malice and inward grudge, had almostc meued the people to warre and coinmocion,
in which tyme all men, ought or should be of one mynde, harte and consent: requiryng
them to defend, serue and drede their soueraigne lorde kyng Henry, in perfourmyng his
conquest in Fraunce, whiche was in maner brought to conclusion, in this parliament the
Duke of Gloucester, laied certain articles to the bishop of Winchesters charge, the
whiche with the aasweres herafter do ensue.
«f The articles of accusation, and accord, betwene my Lord of Gloucester!, and my
lorde of Wynchester.
HEre insueth the articles, as the kynges counsaill hath conceiued, the which the high
and mighty prince, my lord of Gloucester, hath surmised vpon my Lord of Wynchester
Chancellour of Englande, with the ansvrere to thesame.
1 FIRST, where as he beyng protector and defender of this lande, desired the toure to be
opened to him, and to lodge him therein, Richard Woodeuile esquire, hauyng at that
jyme the charge of the kepyng of the toure, refused his desire, and kepte the same toure
against hym, vnduly and against reason, by the commaundement of my saied Lord of
Winchester : and afterward in approuyng of thesaid refuse, he receiued thesaid Wodeuile,
and cherished hym against the state and worship of the kyng, and of my saied lorde of
Gloucester.
ITEM
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 131
ITEM my said lorde of Winchester, without the aduise and assent of my said lorde of 2
Gloucester, or of the kynges counsail, purposed and disposed hym to set liande on the
kynges persone, and to haue remoucd hym from Eltham, the place that he was in to Wind-
sore, to the entent to put him in suchegouernaunce as him list.
ITEM, that where my said lord of Gloucester, to whom of al persones or that should 3
be in the lande, by the waie of nature and birthe, it belongeth to se the gouernaunce of
the kynges person, informed of the said vndue purpose of my saied lord of Winchester,
declared in the articles nexte aboue saied. And in lettyng thereof, determinyng to haue
gone to EltbFi vnto the king, to haue prouided as the cause required. My saied lorde of
Winchester, vntruly and against the kynges peace, to the entent to trouble my said lord
of Gloucester goyng to the kyng purposyng his death in case that he had gone that way,
set men of armes and archers, at thende of London bridge next Southwerke : and in for-
barryng of the kynges high way, let drawe the cheineof the stulpes there and set vp pipes
and hardelles, in maner and forme of Bulwarkes: and set men in chambers, sellers and
windowes, with bowes and arrowes and other weapons, to thentent to bryng to final de-
struccion my saied lorde of Gloucesters persone, aswcll us of those that then should come
with hym.
ITEM my saied lorde of Gloucester saith and affirmeth, that our souereignc lorde his 4
brother, that was kyng Henry the fifth, told hym on a time, when our said souereigne
lorde beyng prince, was lodged in the palaice of Westminster in the greate chambre, by the
noyse of a spanyell there was on a night a man espied and taken behynd a t.ipet of the said
chambre, the whiche man was deliuered to therle of Arundell to be examined vpon the
cause of his beyng there at that tyme. The which so examined at that time, confessed that
he was there by the steryng vp and procuryng of my saied Lorde of Winchester, ordained
to haue slain thesaied prince there in his bedde: Wherfore thesaid erle of Arrudell let
sacke hym forthwith, and drouned hym in the Thamise.
ITEM our souereigne lorde that was, kyng Henry the fifth, said vnto my said lorde of ^
Gloucester, that his father kyng Henry the fourth lining, and visited then greatly with sickc-
nes of the hande of God, my saied lorde of Winchester saied vnto the kyng (Henry the fifth
then beyng prince) that the kyng his father, so visited with sickcnessc was not personable:
and therfore not disposed to come in conuersacion and gouernaunce of the people, and for
so uuichc couasailed hym to take the gouernaunce and croune of this lande vpon hym.
f The answere of the bishop.
HEre enfiueth the answeresand excusacions made by my lord of Wynchester Chauncel-
lour of Englande, vnto the causes and matters of heuinesse, declared in articles against
hym, by my lorde of Gloucester.
FIRST, as of the refuse made vnto my Lord of Gloucester, of opcnyng the toure to
hym, of his lodgyng therin, by the coinanndement of my saied lorde of Wynchester, he
answercth : that in the presence of my said lorde of Gloucester, before his commyng out of
his countey of Henawd, for causes such as wer thought reasonable, it seineth lefull that the
toure should haue been notably stuft'ed and kept with vitaile, how belt, it was not forthwith
executed, and that in likewise after, that my saied lorde of Gloucester was gone into his saied
countrey of Henawd for scdicious and odious billes & language, cast and vsed in the cite of
London, sounyng of insurreccion & rebellion against the kinges peace, and destruccion
aswel of diuerse estates of this land, as straungers beyng vnder the defence, in so muche
that in doubt therof, straungers in great nombre fled the land-- & for the more sure kepyng of
thesaid toure, Richard Wooduile squire, so trusted with y kyng our souereigne lorde that
dead is, (as wel ye knowe) and also chamberlain & counsauer vnto my lord of Bedford,
with a certain nombre of defensible persones assigned vnto him, was made deputie ther, by
thassent of J kynges cousail being that tyme at London, for to abide therin forsafe<*ard ther-
f,o
132 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
of, and straightly charged by thesaied counsaill, that duryng that tyme of his saied charge, he
should not suffreany man to bee in the toure stronger then hymself, without especial charge
or cominaundement of the kyng by thaduise of his counsaill.
ITEM that after, sone vpon the comyng of my saied lorde of Gloucester into this lande
from his countrey of Henawd, the saied lordes of the kynges counsaill were enformed, that
my saied lorde of Gloucester, grudged with thesaid maner of enforcyng the toure, and let
sale to the of London, that he had wel vnderstand, that they had been heuyly thretened for
the tyme of his absence, and otherwise then they should haue bcne if he had be in this land.
Wherfore he was right euil contented, & especial of the said forcyng of the toure, set vpon
the in maner of a chast vilain. Consideryng the good equitie and trouthe that thei had al-
wayes kept vnto the kyng, offeryng them therupon remedy if they would.
3 ITEM that after this, Richard Scot liuetenaunt of the toure, by the coinmaundemet of
my said lorde of Gloucester, brought vnto hym Frier Randolfe, the whiche had long before
confessed treason, doen by hym against the kynges person that dead is, for the whiche know-
ledge he was put to be kepte in the saied toure, and straightly commaunded vnder great
paingeuen vnto the saied Scotte, to kepe hym straightly and surely, and not to let hym out
of the saied toure, without commaudement of the kyng, by thaduise of his counsail. The
which saied Frier Randolf, my said of lorde Gloucester kept then with hymself (not wittyng
the said Scot) as he declared vnto my said lorde of Winchester. Sone after that he had
brought the said Frier Randolf vnto my lorde of Gloucestre, saiyng vnto my saied lorde of
Winchester, that he was vndone but he helped hym, and expressed as for cause of the saied
withholdyng of Frier Randolf: And saying more ouer, that when he desired of my said
lorde of Gloucestre, the deliueraunce of the said Frier Randolfe, to leade hym again vnto
the toure, or sufficient warraunt for his discharge, my said Lorde of Gloucestre aunswered
hym, that his cominaundement was sufficient warraunt and discharge for hym. In the
whiche thyng aboue saied, it was thought to my Lorde of Wynchester, that my saied lorde
of Gloucester, toke vpon hym further then his authoritie stretched vnto, and caused hym
for to doubte & dreade, leaste that he would haue proceaded further. And atsuche tyme as
the saied Woodeuile came vnto him to aske his aduise and counsaill, of lodgyng of my saied
lorde of Gloucester into the toure : he aduised and charged him, that before he suffered my said
lorde of Gloucester or any person lodge therin stronger then hymself, he should purvey
hym a sufficient warraunt therof, of the kyng by thaduise of his counsaill.
4 ITEM as to the saied article of the foresaied causes of heuinesse, my saied Lorde the
Chaunccllor answereth, that he neuer purposed to set hande on the kynges person, nor to
remoue hym, or that he shoulde bee remoued, or put in any maner of gouernaunce, but by
thaduise of the kynges counsaill. For he could not conceiue any maner of goodnes or of
aduauntage that might haue growen vnto hym therof: But rather grcate perill and charge, and
hereof my saied Lorde of Winchester is redy to make profe in tyme and place conuenient.
5 ITEM, as to the third article of the farsaid causes and heuinesse, my said lorde Chaan-
cellor answereth, that he was ofte and diuerse tymes warned by diuerse credible persones,
aswell at the tyme of the kynges laste Parliament, holden at Westminster, as before and
cithe, that my said lorde of Gloucester, purposed him bodely harme, and was warned
therof, and counsailed by the saied persones, and that diuerse tymes to abstain hym fro
commyng to Westminster, as my said Lorde of Winchester declared vnto my saied lorde of
Gloucester.
6 ITEM, that in the tyme of thesaied Parliament diuerse persones of lowe estate, of the
citee of London in great nobre, assembled on a daie vpon the Wharffe, at the Crane of the
Vintry, wished and desired that they had there the persone of my Lord of Winchester,
saiyng: that they would haue throwen hym into the Thamise, to haue taught hym to swymme
with winges. For whiche bilies and language of slander and threatenynges, cast & spoken
in the said cite, by my said lord the Chancellor, caused hym to suppose, that they had so
saied and did, willed and desired his destruceion, although they had no cause.
ITEM
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. U'3
ITEM, that after the comyng to London of sir Raufc Botiller and master Lewes, sent 7
fro my Lorde of Bedford, to the rest of the lordes of the counsaill, they beyng in-
formed that my saied Lorde of Gloucester, did beare displeasure to rny saied Lorde of Win-
chester: They catne to my saied lorde of Gloucester to his Ynne, the second Sondaie next
before Alballowen daie, and there opened vnto him, that they had knowledge and vnder-
derstandyng of thesaied displeasure, praiyng hym to lette theim knowe if he -bare suche
displeasure against my saied Lorde of Winchester, and also the causes thereof. At the
whiche tyme (as my said lorde of Winchester was afterward informed) that my sated lorde
of Gloucester, affirmed that he was heuy towarde hym, and not withoutten causes that par-
aduenture he would put in vvrityng.
ITEM, that after the Modaie next before Alhallowen daie last past in the night, the 8
people of thesaid citee of London, by the commaundement of my said lorde of Glouces-
ter, as it was said: For what cause my lorde the Chancellor wist not, assembled in the
citee, armed and arraied and so continued all that night. Emongest diuerse of the whiche,
(the same night by what excitacion, my said lorde the Chauncellor wist not) seclicious and
heuie language was vsed, and in especiall against the persone of my saied lorde the Chauti-
cellor. And so the same Mondaie at night, my saied Lorde of Gloucester, sent vnto the-
Ynnes of Courte at London, chargyng them of the Court dwellyng in thesame to be with
hym vpon the morowe, at eight of the clocke in their best arraie.
ITEM that on the morowe, beyng Tewesday next folowyng early, my saied lorde of 9
Gloucester, sent vnto the Maire and Aldermen of the saied citee of London, to ordain hyrn
vnto the nombre of three hundred persones on horssebaeke, to accompany hym to suche
place as he disposed hym to ride, which (as it was saied) was vnto the kyng, to thentent to
haue his persone, and to remoue hym from the place that he was in, without assent or
aduise of the kynges counsail, the whiche thyng was thought vnto- my saied lorde the Chaun-
cellor, that he ought in nowise to haue doen, nor had not been sene so before.
ITEM that mv saied lorde the chauncellor, consideryng the thynges aboue said, and 10
doubtyng therfore of perelles that might haue insued thereof, intendyng to purueye there
against, and namely for his awne suretie and defence, accordyng to the lawe of nature, or-
dained to let that no force of people, should come on the bridge of London towarde hym,
by the whiche he or his might haue been indaungered or noyed, not intendyng in any wise,
bodely harme vnto my saied lorde of Gloucester, nor to any other person, but ouely his
awne defence end eschcwyng the perell abouesaied.
ITEM as toward the fourth and iifth of the saied articles, my loide the Chauncellor an- j j
swereth, that he was eucr true, to al those that wer his soueraigne Lordes, and reigned
vpon hym, and that he neuer purposed treason nor vntrouth against any of their persones,
and in especiall against the persone of our saied soueraigne lorde kyng Henry the fifth.
The whiche consideryng the greate wisedome, trouthe and manhod, that al men knewe in
hym, ne would not for the tyme that he was kyng, haue set on my said lorde the Chauncel-
lor so greate truste as he did, if he had founde, or thought in hym suche vntrouthe. The
whiche thyng tny saied Lorde the Chauncellor, olfred to declare and shewe, as it belogeth
to a man of his estate to do, requiryng thervpon my lord of Bedford, and all the lordes
spiritual! and temporal in this parliamet, that it might be sene, that there wer judges co-
uenient in this case, that they would do hym right, or els that he might haue leaue of the
kyng by their aduise, to go sue his right, before hym y ought to be his iudge.
AND as towarde the letter sent by my lord of Winchester, vnto my lord of Bedford, jg
of the whiche the tenor is before rehersed, of the which my lorde of Gloucestre complain-
ed hym of the malicious and vntrue purpose of my said lord of Winchester, as toward
the assernblyng of the people and gatheryng of a feld in the kynges lade in troublyng there-f,
and against thelcinges peace: My said lorde of Winchester answereth, that of his said let-
ters duely vnderstande, & in suche wise as he vnderstod and meant in the writyng of them,
it maie not reasonably be gathered and taken, that my saied lorde of Winchester, intended-
to
THE, 1113. YERE OF
to gather any fe!d or assemble people, in troublyng of the kynges land, and against the
fringes peace, but rather he purposed to acquitc hyin to the kyng in his trouthe, and to
kepe the rest and peace in the kytigcs land, and to eschew rebellion, disobedience and all
trouble. For by that that in the begin nyng of the said letter, he callcth my said lorde of
Bedford, his Icuest lorde, after one, that is the kyng, whom he ought to except of dutie of
hio t ron the, the whiche he imth euer kept and will kcpe.
13 MOREOVER in the saicd letlre, he desireth the commyng home of my Lorde of Bed-
forde, for the welfare of the kyng and of his realmes of England and of I'raunce. the
whiche stande principally in his kcpyng of rest and peace, and praicth my saied lorde of
Bedford, to spede his commyng into England, in cscliewyng of ieoperdy of the land, and
of a felde the whiche he drade hym, might haue folowed if he had long taried : As toward
those wordes, and ye tary we shall put this land in aduenture with a feld, suche a brother
ye liaue here, &c. My saicd lord of Winchester saieth, lhesothei§: before or he wrote
thesaied letter, by occasion of certain ordinaunces, made by the Mairc and Aldermen of
London, against the excess! ue taking of Masons, Carpentars, Tilers, Plasterers and other
laborers, for their daily iorneis and approued by the kynges aduise and his counsaill, there
were caste many heuinesses and sedicious billes, vnder the names of suche laborers, thret-
enyng risyug with many thousandes, and manassyng of estates of the lando, and likewise
sedicious and euill language sowen, .and .so continued and likely to haue sued of purpose
and intent of disobedience and rebellion. To redressyng of the v.hiche, it seined to my
forde the Chauncellor, that my said lorde of Gloucester, did not his endeuor, nor diligence
that he might haue shewed, for lacke of whiche diligence, they that were disposed to do
disobeysaunce, were incoraged and inboldened. So that it was like that they should haue
made a gathcryng, and that the kyng and his true subiectes, should haue been compelled
to haue made a felde, to haue withstand theim, the which feld makyng had been ad-
tienturyng of this lande. And in tokenyng that it was neucr my said lorde Chauncellors
intent to gather no feld, but as trouth moste stirred hyin against suche as riotously, would
make suche assemble against our soueraigne Lorde, and the weale of this land : He de-
sired so hastely, the commyng of my saied Lorde of Bedforde, the whiche he would in
no wise haue so greatly desired, if he would haue purposed hym vnto any vnlawful makyng
of a feld, for he wist wel that my said lorde of Bedford would moste sharply haue chastised
and punished, all those that so would any riotous assehle make. When this answere was
made, the duke caused this writyng folowyng, opely to be proclaymed.
14 Beit knowen to all folkes, that it is the intent of my lord of Bedford, and all the lordes
spiritual! and temporal!, assembled in this present parliament, to acquite hym and them,
and to precede truly, iustely and indifferently, without any parcialitie, in any maner of
matters or querelles, moued or to bee moued, betwene my Lorde of Gloucester, on that
one partie, and my lorde of Winchester, Chauncellor of England on that other party.
And for sure kcping of the kynges peace, it is accorded by my saied lorde of Bedford, and
by my saied lordes spiritual and temporal!, an othe to be made, in forme that foloweth,
that is to saie.
f The Othe of the lordes.
TMat my saied lorde of Bedford, and my saied lordes spiritual and temporal, and eche
of them, shal as farfurth as their connynges and discrecions suffisen, truly, iustly, and in-
differently, cousaill and aduise the kyng, and also procede and acquite them self, in al the
said matters and quarelles, without that they, or any of theim, shall priuely and appertly,
make or shewe hymself to be party or parciall thcrin, not leuyng or eschewyng so to do,
for affcccion, loue, mede, doubt, or dreade of any persoue or persones. And that they
shall in all wise, kepe secrete all that shalbe commoned by waie of counsuill, in the mat-
ters and quarelles abouesaid, in the said parliament, without that they or any of them shall
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 135
by worde, writyng of the kyng, or in any wise open, or discouer it to any of thesaid par-
ties, or to any other person that is not of the saied counsail. But if lie haue a speciall
commaundement or leaue thereto of tlie kyng, or of my saied lorde of Bedfordc, and that
eche of them shall, with all his might and power, assist by waie of counsaill, and els shewc
it vnto tlie kyng, my lordc of Bedibrdc, and to the rest of my said lordes, to put the said
parties to reaso, and not suffer that any of the saied parties, by them or by their assistentes,
procede or attempte by waie of feit against the kynges peace: nor helpe, assiste, or comfort
any of them thereto, but let them witli all their might and power, and withstands them,
and assist vnto the kyng and my saied Lord of Bedfordc, in-kepyng of the kynges peace,
and redressyng all such maner of procedyng by waie of foil or force.
5f The Dukes. The Lord Cromcwell.
The Duke of Bedford. The Lord Bovoughth.
The Duke of Norffolke. The Lord Louell.
The Duke of Excestrc. The Lord Botreux.
<f Bisshoppes. The Lord Clynton.
The Archebishop of Canterbury- The Lord Zouche.
The Bishop of Carlisle. The Lord Audeley.
The Bishop of Bathe. The Lord Ferreis of Grobv.
The Bishop of Landaffe. The Lord Talbot.
The Bishop of Rochestre. The Lord Roos.
The Bishop of Chichcster. The Lord Grey.
The Bishop of Worcester. The lord Grey of Ruff
The Bishop of Sainct Dauies. The Lord Fitzwalter.
The Bishop of London. The Lord Berkeley.
The Bishop of Durcsme. «f Abhottes.
^jErles. The Abbot of Waltlmm.
The Erie of Northumberlande. The Abbot of Glaustinbtiry.
The Erie of Staffurde. The Abbot of saincte Augustines in Can-
The Erie of Oxforde. torbury.
Lordes. The Abbot of Westminster.
The Lord Hungerforde. The Abbot of Sainct Maries in Yorko.
Tlie Lord Tiptoft. The Abbot of saincte Albons, not sworn*-
The Lord Ponyngcs. because hewas not presente.
WHICHE othe in maner and forme aboue rehersed, all the lordes aswell spirituall a«
temporal!, beyng in this parliamft at Leicester assembled the tburthe daic of Marche, pro-
mised vpon their faithe, dutie and allegeaunce, whiche they owe to the kyng their soueraigne
Lorde, truly to obserue and kepe, accordyng to the true meanyng and purport of thesame
^[ The Arbitrement.
IN the name of God, we Henry Archebishop of Canterbury, Thomas Duke of. Excester,
Ihon Duke of Norffolke, Thomas bishop of Duresme, Philip bishop of Worcester, Ihon
bishop of Bathe, Humfrey erle of Stafford, William Alnewike keper of the kynges priuie
Scale, Ranffe lorde of Cromwell, arbitratoures in all maner of causes, matters and quarel.s
of heuinesses and greuaunces, with all incidentz, circumstaunces, dependentes, or. connexes, .
lieyng and hagyng betwene the high and worthy prince Hufrey Duke of Gloucester, on tlie
one partie, and the worshipful father in God, Henry bishop of Winchester and Chauncellor
of England, on the other partie, by either of theim for the peacyng of the saied quarelles and-
debate?, taken nnd chosen in maner and forme; as it is conteined more plainly in a compri-
iresse made theiupon, of the whiche the tenor sheweth in this forme.
MEMORANDVM the. vii. daie of Marche, in the. iiij. yere of our soueraigne Ijordeithe
kyng, Henry the sixt. The high and mightie prince Humfrey duke. of Gloucsstre, atlbe re-
3 uerence
THE. IIIJ. YE RE OF
ucrcncc of God, and for the good of the kyng our soucraigne Lorde in this lande, and namely
at the rcneix'ce, and specially at the request and praier of the mightie and highe prince my
lord of Bedford his brother, agreed hym to put and putteth all maner matters and queralles
in deede, with all their nicidentez, circumstaunces, dependentz and connexes, that touchen
liyni and his persone, that lie hath in anywise, do, or feleth hym greued, or heuy against
iny lorde his vncle, my Lorde of Winchester. Or els that my Lorde of Winchester findeth
him greued against hym, in asmuchc as they touch hym or his persone, fro the beginnyng of
the wbrlde vnto this daie. Jn the aduise, ordinaunce and arbitrament of the worthy father
in GOD, Henry Archbishop of Canterbury, the high and noble prince Thomas duke of Ex -
'tester, and Ihon duke of Norffolke, the worshipfull father in God Thomas bishop ofDu-
resmc, Philip bishop of Worcester, Iho bishop of Bathe. The noble lorde Ilumfrey erle of
Stafford, the worshipfull persones, Master William Alnewike keperof the kynges priuy sealer
and Haufe lorde Crurmvel, promisyng and behightyng, by the faith of his body, and worde
of his princehode and kynges sonne, to do kepe, obserue and fulfil, for hym and in his behalf,
all that shalbe declared, ordeined and arbitred, by the forsaid Archebishop, Dukes, bishop-
j>es, Erie, Keper of the priuie scale, and lorde Cruwell, in all matters and querelles aboue
saied: Grauntyng also and promisyng ouer that, to be comprehended in the forsaied arbi-
tretnent, as toward puttyng awaie all heuinesse or displeasures in any wise conteined by
my lorde of Gloucester, against all those that haue in any wise assisted, counsailed, or fa-
uorcd vnto his said vncle of Winchester, and as toward any matters, that be touchyng
my Lord of Gloucester, remitteth it and the gouernaunce thereof vnto the kyng and
his counsaill, they to dome it by the aduise of his counsaill, as hym thynketh it to be
doen. In witncsse of the whiche thyng, to this present compromise, my said lorde of Glou-
cester, hath subscribed his name with his awne hande, Humfrey Gloucester. And in like
forme, my Lorde of Winchester in another compromise, hath suscribed with his awne hande,
vnder the worde of priestehod, to stande at the aduise, ordinaunce and arbitremet of the
persones abouesaied, Mutatis Mutandis.
THE causes beforsaied and querelles by vs sene, heard, and diligently examined and de-
creed, by the assent of the saied parties, ordeine and award, that my lordes of Gloucester
and of W inches ter, for any thyng doen or spoken, by that one purtie against that other, or by
any of theirs or any other persone or persones, afore the. vii. daie of this present Moncth of
Marche, ncuer hereafter take causes, querelles, displeasures or heuinesses, that one against
theother, ne nether against thecounsailers, adherentes or fauorers of that other, for any thing
or thynges that are past. And that my saied lorde of Gloucester, bee good Lorde to my
saied Lorde of Winchester, and haue hym in loue and affeccion as his kynsemen and Vncle.
And that my saied Lorde of Winchester, haue to my saied Lorde of Gloucester, true and
s:\dde loue and affeccion, do and bee ready to do to hym suche seruice, as aperteineth of
'honesty to my saied Lorde of Winchester and his estate todoo. And that eche of theim be
good Lord vnto all those adherentes, counsailers and fauorers of that other, and shewe theim
;it all tymes fauorable loue and affeccion, as for any thyng doen by them, or saied afore the
scuenth daie of Marche.
AND we derre, ordaiue and awarde, that my saied Lorde of Wynchester, in the pre-
sence of the kyng oure soueraigne Lorde, my Lorde of Bedfordr, and my Lorde of
Gloucester, and the rcsydue of the Lordes Spirituall and Temporal!, and' Commons
beeyng in this prcsente Parlyamente, saye and declare in maner and forme that foloweth.
MY soueraigne Lorde I haue well vnderstande, that I am noysed emong the states of your
land, how that the kyng our soueraigne lorde that was that tyme, beyng prince and lodged
iu thegreate chambreat Westminster, by the baiyngof a spanyell, there was on a night taken,
behynJ a tapet in thcsame chamber, a man, that should haue confessed, that he was thereby
myne excitacion and procuryng to haue slain theforesaied Prince there in his bedde, where-
vpon thesaied erle, let sacke hym furthwith, and drouned hym in the Thamise. And fur-
thermore I am accused, how that I should haue stirred the kyng that last died, the tyme also
that he was Prince, to haue taken the gouernaunce of this rcalme, and the croune vpo him,
1 liuyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 137
liuyng his father the same tyme beyng kyng: Through whiche language and uoysyng, I feie
my name and fame greatly emblemmisshed, in diuerse inenhes opinions. Where vpon I take
h'rste God to my witnesse, and afterwarde all the worlde, that I haue been at all tymes, £ am
true louer and true man, to you my soueraigne Lorde, and shalbe all my life. And also I
haue bene to my soneraigne lorde, that was your father, all tyme of his reigne, true man:
and for suche, he toke trust and cherished me to his Hues end, and as I trust no man nil
affirme the contrary, nor neuer in my life procuryng, nor imagenyng death nor destruccio of
his person, ne assentyng to any such thyn'g, or like thereto, the tyme that he was kyng or
Prince, or els in other estate. And in like wise, I was true man to Kyng Henry the. iiij. all
the tyme that he was my soueraigne lorde, and reigned vpon me: In which matters, in all
maner of wise, that it liketh to you my soueraigne lorde for to commaunde me, I am ready
for to declare me: And furthermore, where, how and when, it shall like you by thaduise of
your counsaill to assigne me. Wherefore I beseche you my soueraigne Lorde as humbly as
I can consideryng that there is no grounded processe, by the v\ hich I might lawfully, in these
matters aboue saied beconuict, blessed be God, to holdeme and declare me by thaduise of
al the lordes spirituall and temporall, beyng in this presente Parliament, true man to you
my soueraigne lord, & so to haue been vnto my souereigne lords that wer your fattier and
graudfather, and true man also, to haue been at all tymes vnto his saied father, whilest he
was Prince, or els in any other estate, the said slaunder and noysyng notwithstanding. And
this same declaracion to be enacted, in this your saied present parliament.
THE which wordes declared in maner, as it is aboue said by my said larde of Winchester,
it semeth to my saied lordes the arbitrators, that it is fittyng that my said lorde of Win-
chester drawe hym a part, and in the ineane tyme, the Lordes beyng present, bee singulerly
examined thervpon and saie their aduise: And if it be assented by theim in maner as my
saied lorde of Winchester desireth, let hyin be called again, and that then my lord of Bed-
ford, then haue these wordes in effect y foloweV
FAIRE vncle, my Lord, y kyngs grace by the aduise of his connsaill, hath comma unded me
to saie to you, that he hath well vnderstande and considered all the matters whiche ye haue
here openly declared in his presence, and thereupon ye desire a peticion that he will declare
you, and by the aduise and assent of the lordes spiritual! an dtemporall, beyng in this presente
Parliamente, he declarethyou a true man to hym, and that ye haue so bee to my lorde his father
and his graundfather, and also true man to my Lorde his father whiles he was Prince or els
in any other estate, thesaied dislaunder and noysyng notwithstandyrig : And will that the
saied declaracion be so enacted in this present parliament. After the whiche wordes thus
saied, as before is declared, by thesaied lordes arbitratours that my saied lorde of Winchester
should haue these wordes that folowcth, to my saied lorde of Gloucester.
MY Lorde of Gloucester, I haue concerned to my greate hcuinesse that ye should haue
receiued by diuerse reportes, that I should haue purposed and imagined against your persone,
honor and estate in diuerse maners, for thewhich ye haue take against me great displeasure
Sir I take God to my witnes, that what reportes socuer haue been to you of me, paraduen-
ture of such as haue had no greate affeccion to me, GOD forgiuc it them, I neuer imagined,
ne purposed any thyng that might be hyndcryng or preiudice to your persone, honor, or estate.
And therfore, I praie you that ye be vnto me good lord from this time furthe, for by my
will I gaue neuer other occasion, nor purpose not to do herafter through Goddes grace.
The whiche wordes so by hym saied, it was decreed by the said arbitratours, that my lord
of Gloucester should answere and saie.
Faire Vncle, sithe ye declare you suche a man as ye saie, I am right glad that it is so and
for suche a man I take you.
And when this was doen, it was decreed by the saied arbitratours that euery ech of my
lordes of Gloucester and Winchester should take either other by trie hande, in the presence
of the kyng and all the parliament, in signe and token of good loue and accord, the whiche
was doen and the Parliamet was adiourned till after Easter.
T When
138 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
When the greate fire of this disceneion, betwene these twoo noble personages, was thus
by the arbitratours to their knowledge and iudgement, vtterly quenched out, and laied vnder
boord all other controuersies bttnene other Loroles, takyng parte with the one partie or the
other, wer soue apeased and brought to concord. For ioy wherof, the kyng caused a so-
lepne feast, to be kept on Whitsou sondaie, on the whiche daie, he created Richard Plan-
tagenet, sonne and heiretothe erle of Cambridge (whom his father at Hampton, had put to
execution, as you before haue heurde) Duke of Yorke, not forseyng before, that this pre-
fermet should be his destruction, nor that his sede should, of his generacion, bee the ex-
treme ende and finall confusion. He the same daie also promoted Ihon Lorde Mowbrey
and Erie Marshall, sonne and heire to Thomas duke of Norffolke, by kyng Richard the se-
conde exiled this real me and dominion, to the title, name, and stile o; the Duke of Norflblke,
duryng whiche feaste, the Duke of Bedforde adourneJ the kyng with the high ordre of
Jknighthode, whiche on thesame daie dubbed with the swear jd these knightes whose names
ensue.
Richard Duke of Yorke. Sir Reignold Cobharn.
Ihon Duke of Norffolke. Sir Ihon Passheleue.
The erle of Westmerlande, Sir Thomas Tunstall.
Henry lorde Percie. Sir Ihon Chedeocks.
Ihon lord Butler, sonne to therle cf Or- Sir Raufe Langstre.
naond. Sir William Drurye.
The lord Ilosse. Sir William Ap Thomas.
The lorde Matrauers. Sir Richard Caruonell.
The lorde Welles. Sir Richard Wooduile.
The lorde Barkeley. Sir Ihon Shirdclow.
Sir lames Butler. Sir Nicholas Blanket.
Sir Henry Graye of Tankaruile. Sir William Cheyney.
Sir Ihon Talbot. Sir William Babyngto lustice.
Sir Raufe Graye of Werke. Sir Raufe Butler.
-Sir Robert Veer. Sir Robert Beauchapme.
Sir Richard Grey. Sir Edmond Trafford.
Sir Edmond Hungerford. -Sir ILon lune chief Baron, and diuerse
Sir Water Wyngfeld. other.
Sir Ihon Buttelen.
AFTER this solempne feast ended, a great aide and subsidye was graunted, for the conti-
nuance of the conquest in Fraunce, and so money was gathered, and men wer prepared
in euery citee, toune, and coutrey: duryng whiche busines, Thomas duke of Excester, the
sadde, wise and ivel learned cousailer, great vncle to the kyng, departed out of this mortal
life, at his manner of Grenewiche, & was with al funeral pompe, conueyed through London
to Berry, and there buried. In which yere also died the Lady Elizabeth his halfe sister,
& of the whole bloud with kyng Henry the. iiij. inaried to lorde Ihon Hollande duke of Ex-
cester and after to the lord Fanhope, buried at the Blacke Friers of London.
WHILE these thynges wer thus appoyntyng and concludyng in Englande: The erle of
Warwicke leuetenaunt for the Regente in the reahne of Fraunce, entered into the countrey
ofMayne, and besieged the toune of Chasteau de Loyre, the which shortly to h'yrn was re-
dered wherof he madecapitain Matthew Gough esquire. After that, he toke by assaute the
castle of Mayet, and gaue it for his valeauntnes to Iho Winter esquire, & after that he con-
quered the castle of Lund, and made there governor, William Gladdisdale gentleman. At
whiche place he was informed, that the Frenchemen were assembled together, in the coun-
trey of Beausse, wherforelike a valyaunt capitain, he with all his power marched thether-
warde, to encountre with his enemies, and to fight with his aduersaries, whiche hauyng
knowledge of his approchyng, fled, and durste not abide the triall, nor jeopardy the aduen-
ture, and in his returnyng, he beseged the Castle of Montdubkan, whereof was capitain sir
4 Roberto
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 13.9
Roberto des Croix, whiche siege cotinued thre \vekes, but in conclusion the Englishcmen,
so sore charged theim with in, that the capitain with his whole company, were contente to
yelde the castle, their Hues horse and harneis, oncly reseKued: Wliiche to them ivas after
long consultacion had, and many agrementes made frankely grauted. And the saied erle of
Warwicke, leauyng there the valeaunt lorde Willoughby, returned again to Paris. Duryng
whiche season he was ordained by the assent of the thre estates of thcreahne of England to
be gouernorof the young kyng, in like maner as the noble Duke of Excester before his death
was appoynted and assigned, but yet he taried still in Eraunce, and did there no small scr-
uice as you shall here after percciue.
If THE FIFTH YERE.
THE Regent of Fraunce thus beeyng in Englande, meanes was made by the Duke of Bur- The.v.yere.
goyne, for the deliuery of the Duke of Alanson, whiche was taken prisoner at the battaill of
Vernoylelhe last yere. So he for the some of twoo hundred thousande crounes, was deliuered
and set at large: but neither for release of all or abatement of part of his raunsome, he
would in no wise acknowledge the kyng of Englande, to he his liege and soucreigne Lorde:
Suche affeccion bare he to the Dolphyn, and suche troulh shewed he to his natural country. •
When all thynges wer concluded, ordered and established, bothe for the conseruacion of
peace and tranquilitie within the realme of Englande, and also for the maintenaunce ofwarre
for the finall gainyng of the region of Fraunce : the Duke of Bedforde and his wife, tooke
their leaue of the Kyng, at Westminster and landed at Calice, with who also passed the seas,
Henry bishop of Winchester, whiche in thesaied tonne was inuested with the Habile, Hatte
and dignitie of a Cardinall, with all Ceremonies to it appertainyng. Whiche degree, kyng
Henry the fifth knowyng the haute corage, and the ambicious myndeof the man, prohibited
_hym on his allegeaunce once, either to sue for or to take, mcanyng that cardinalles Hattcs
should not presume to be egall with Princes. Hut now the kyng beyng young and the Regent
his frencle, he obteined that dignitie, to his greate profite, and to the empoucrishyng of the
spiritualtie. For by a Bull legatyne, whiche he purchased at Rome, he gathered so much
treasure, that no man in maner had money but he, and so was he surnamed the riche Car-
dinall of Winchester, and nether called learned bishop, nor vertcous priest.
AFTER that, the duke of Bedford was returned into Fraunce, the lorde of Rustinan Mar-
shall of Britayn, assembled a greate company of the Britishe nacion, whiche fortefied & re-
paired the toune of Ponntorson, and after thesaied Marshall, with a thousand men entered
into the countrey of Constantyne in Normandy, and came before the toune of Auranches.
Thenglishmen within the garrison, issued out & boldly fought with their enemies: but after
long conflicte and many strokes geuen, the Britons wer ouer come, and the lorde Rusty-
nan taken, and the moste parte of his people slaine. The Duke of Bedforde hearyng that
4he toune of Pountorson was newly fortified and strongly defended, sent thither the erle of
Warwicke, accopanied with the lorde Scales, and diuerse other valiaunt capitaines and
souldiers, to the nombre of. vii. thousand men to besiege the toune, whiche so enuironed
it on euery parte, that neither man could steale out, nor beast could passe in. The siege
long continnyng, vitaill began to waxe scant in the Englishe armie, wherefore the Lord
Scales hauyng in his company, sir Ihon Harpely Bayly of Constantine, sir William Brear
ton Bayly of Caen, sir Raufe Tesson, sir Ihon Carbonell and. iii. thousand good men of
war, departed fro the siege to get vitail, pouder and other thynges necessary for their pur-
pose and enterprise. And as they were returnyng with their cariages On the sea cost, riere
to S. Michaels Moiit, they sodainly wer encounlred with their enemies, wherof the chief
wer, the Baron of Coloses, the lorde Dausebost capitain of thesaid Mount the lorde Moun-
tabon, the lorde Mountburchier, the lorde of Chasteau Giron, the lord of Tyntygnat, the
lord of Chasteau Brian with. vi. M. men of warre. The lorde Scales and his company
T 2 (seyng.
140 V THE. V. YERE OF
(seyng that thei wer compassed on euery side with deadly daungiers, for the sea was on the
one side, and their enemies on the other, and no mcane waie to escape or flie, discended
from their horsses and like gredy Lions, together in an vnpeaceable fury, set on their ene-
mies. The skirmishe was strong & the fight was fierce, the Englishmen kept themselfes so
close, that their enemies could haue no auantage of them. At the last the lorde Scales cried
S. George, they flie, with that thenglishmen toke suche a corage, & the Frenchmen that
fought before, were so dismaied that they began to flie. The Englishmen leped again on
horssebacke, and folowed theim, and slewe and toke aboue. xi.C. persones, emongest who
wer taken, the Baron of Colsoes, and the lorde of Chasteau Brian and xxx. knightes.
AFTER this victory, the Lorde Scales with his vitailes, prouision and prisoners, return-
ed to the siege, where he was of the Erie and other noble men, Joyously receiuecl and for this
notable facte, highly magnified and preysed. While the siege thus continued before Poun-
torson, Christopher Hanson and other souldicrs of the garrison of S. Susan, made a rode
into the countrey of Anioy, & came to a Castle called Kamffort, which castle was so priuely
scaled, that the capitain within & his company, wer taken or slain before they knewe of
their enemies approchyng. When knowledge of this fcate was made open to the Frenche-
nien, whiche were assembled to the nombre of. xx.M. to reyse the siege, and breake vp the
the campe, liyng before the toune of Pountorson, they left that iourney for a tyme, and re-
turned to the Castle of Ramffort, and besieged thesame by the space of tenne daies.
THE Englishmen considering the multitude of the enemies, and the farre absence of
their frendcs, began to treate with the Frenchmen and so vpon condicion to departe with
baggc and baggage, horse and names, thei rendered vp the castle, and departed with more
riches then thei brought, whiche castle thus possessed by the Frenchemen, they forgat the res-
kew of Poutorson, and brake vp thei. army. But sone after, the lorde of Raix, calling
himself liuetenaunt general for the dolphin, accompanyed with the lorde Mount lehan, the
Lorde Bcaumanoire, and the lorde Tussye, and other to the n5bre of thre thousand per-
sones, entered into the countrey of Mayn, & laied siege to the castle of Malycorne, w he rot"
was capitain an Englishma, called Oliuer Osbatersby, which castle with the capitain, was by
force taken and obteined : in like maner they toke the litle castle of Lude^ and there in
William Blackeborne leuetcnaunt for Willia Glasdale esquire, & put hym to rausorne, and
slewe al his souldiers. Alter this victory, in the which they muche gloried, the Frenchmen
perceiuing that therle of Warwicke continued stil his siege before the toune'of Pountorson,
& knowyng by their espials, that the Englishmen wer determined to geue them battaill, if
thei once attempted to rayse the siege, and therefore fearyng to fight in an open battaill, re-
culed backe again to the dolphyn with litle gain and small honor. The Frenchmen and:
Britons beyng straighlly besieged within the tonne of Pountorson, perceiuyng no likelyhod.
of succors to come, and seyng the Englishe army daily did increase, fearyng the sequela
therof, if they by violence should be taken and vanquished, thei offered the toune, so that
thei might departe with horse and harnes only: whiche request (after long sute and peticion)
to theim was hardely graunted. The Erie like avaliaunt capitain, entred into the toune and
there appoynted for gouernors, the lord Roos, and the lorde Talbot, and leuyng there .a
conuenient garrison, returned to the lorde Regent.
AFTER the takyng of this toune, there was a league, and a treaty concluded betwene the
Regent and the duke of Britayn, by the whiche agrement bothe the tounes of Pountorson
and S. lames de Beuron wer beaten doune to the ground £ clery defaced. After the lord
ef Rais was departed out of the territory of Mayne as you haue heard, Christopher Han-
son, Phillip Gough, Martyn Godffrey called the sealer, and diuerse other of the garrison of
S. Susan, to the nombre of. xxx. ar chars, went out in a mornyng to seke their aduetures,
and came nere to the Castle of sainct Laurence de Mortiers (at the same very season)
whe sir lames de Scpeaulx capitain of thesame, was gone out of his Castle with the greatest
nombre of his retinewe, to a Churche directly against the castle. In the masse time, then-
glisHmen entered by subtiltie into the gate & so gat the dongeon. And when sir James re-
1 turned
_____ KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 141
turned from Masse, as he entered into the gate he was taken, and his men fled, and so was
the castle furnished with Englishmen, and capitain therof was appoynted, sir William Old-
haule.
THE same season, sir Ihon Fastolfe, gouernor of the countries of Aniowand Maine, as-
sembled a great puissaunce of men of warre, and laied a siege before the castle of sainct
Owen Destays, beside the toune ofLauall, wherof was capitain sir Guillam Orenge, whiche,
after ten daies besiegyng, rendred the castle, their Hues and armure only except: howbeit
one railyng and slaunderous persone was put to terrible execution. And from thence, the-
said sir Ihon remoued to the strog castle of Grauile, & after, xii. daies, thei within offred to
yeld the castle by a day if thei wer not succored by y dolphin or his power. The offre was
taken & pledges deliuered, which wer Guilla Cordouen, & Ihon de Majsierie esquicrs. Af-
ter these pledges deliuered, sir Ihon Fastolffe returned in post to the regent, aduertisyng
him of this cotnposicion and agrement: wherfore thesaid lorde, reised a greate power, to
tight with the Frenche men at the day appoynted, and in his company, wer the erles of
Mortaigne and Warwicke, and the lordes Roos, and Talbot, sir Ihon Fastolffe, sir Ihon
Aubemond, sir Ihon Ratclife, and diuerse other, to the nombre of twentie thousand men,
and so inarched forward in hope to mete and ioyne battail with their enemies. But their
aduersaries, whiche wer not farre of, durste notapproche, wherfore the Regent sent sir Ihon
Fastolfe incontinent to receiue the castle : but they within (cotrary to their prornesse and ap-
pointment) had newly vitailed and manned the place, and so forsaking their pledges and
iielowes in armes, refused to render the fortres according to the appointment:, wherfore the
pledges were brought before the sight of theiin within the castle, and there openly put to death.
After this, the lord Talbot, was made gouernor, of Aniow and Mayne, and sir Ihon.
Fastolffe was assigned to another place: whiche lorde Talbot, beyng bothe of noble birthe,
aud haute corage, after his comming into Fraunce, obteigned so many glorious victories of
his enemies, that his only name was, and yet is dredful to the Frenche nacion, and muche
renoumedemongest all other people. This ioly capitain, and sonne of the valiant Mars, en-
tered into Mayn and sleive men, destroyed castles, and brent tounes, and in conclusion, ,
sodainly toke the toune of Lauull: but the lord Loghac, and diuerse other, retrayted theiiu.
selfes into the Castle, and there remained eight daies. Duryng which tyme, it was agreed,
that all capitaines, Burgesses, and men of warre, which wer within the Castle, should de-
part with bagge and baggages, paiyng to the lord Talbot for al thynges, one hundred thou-
sand CrouneSi And the Castle so beyng deliuered, was committed to the kepyng of Gilbert.
Halsall, w.hiche after, was slain at the siege of Oileance, for whom was made capitain
Matthew Gough, which beyng at the iorney before Senlies, by treason of a miller that kept
a mil adioynyng to the walle, the Frenchemen entered into the toune, and brought it into
their subiectionand obeysaunce.
THE duke of Bedford, was aduertised by his espials, that the toune of Montar»es^
whiche was in the territory of Orleance, was but slenderly kept and smally furnished, and
that it might be taken with litle pain and no losse. The Regent glad of these newes, sent
therleof Suffolke, sir Ihon Pole his brother, & sir Henry Bisset with sixe. Mi men to assaute
the toune, but when they came thether and found the toune better manned and more
strongly defenced, then their expectacion imagined, they gaue no assaute but laied sie^e
aboute the toune, and therle of Warwike was appoynted to lye with a great nomber of
menne of warre, at sainct Mathelines de Archamp, to encountre the Frenchmen if they
would attempt to ayde or vitaill those that wer enclosed within the, toune. This fortresse
stode in suche a place, that what with waters and what with marishes, the army must seuer
in thre partes, so that the one could not easely help the other, but either by boates or
bridges, so the toune was besieged by the space of two monethes and more. In the meane-
seasoiij Arthur of Britayne, Constable for the dolphyn, sent thether in all hast, the lorde
Boisac Marshall of Frauce, Stephin le Hire, Ponton de Sentrayles, the lorde Grauile, and
diuerse other valiaunt horssemen, to the nomber of thre thousand and aboue, which priuely;
ins
142 THE. V. YERE OF
in the night, came on that side where sir Ihon de la Pole and sir Henry Bisset laye, whom
they found out of all ordre and without any watche. So the Frenchemen entered into their
ludgcs and slewe many in their beddes, they spared no man, for the resistance was smal, Sir
Iho Dela pole with his horsse saued hymself, and fled ouer the water to his brother, & sir
Henry Bisset escaped hyaboateand eight with him. The residue whiche would haue passed the
bridge and ioynedwith the erle of Suffolke, fled in such plumpcs ouer the bridge, that the
tymber brake and a great nombre was drouned so, y there were slain & drouned xv.C. men.
The erle of YVanvike hearyng of this chaunce, departed from sainct Mathelyn with all dili-
gent spede, and came before Montarges offeryng battaill to the Frenche capitaines, which
answered that thei had manned and vitailed the toune, and enteded to do nomore at that
time. Thenglishmen seyng that their trauaile should be in vain, came back softely again
with all their ordinaunce to the duke of Bedforde.
IT should seme that fortune at this time would not, that the Freche men should haue one
ioyfull claie, butthesame also should be myngled with dolor or displeasure. For at this very
tytne, sir Nicholas Burdett appoynted by the duke of Somerset, to vexe and trouble his ene-
mies in the costes of Britayne, sent light horssemen into euery part, vexyng the people and
wastyng the coutrey. All tounes that he passed by were brente al, and buildynges spoyled &
robbed, prisoners and praies wer aboundantly taken, small villages wer destroyed, and greate
tounes wer raunsomed, & so without hurt or damage, thcsaid sir Nicholas returned into Nor-
mandyi This mischance beyng declared to the Constable of Fraunce and the other capi-
taines, cut their combes and plucked doune their hartes, whiche were set on so mery a pynne,
for the victory of Montarges, that they were in maner, like desperate persones, loth to at-
tempte any farther enterprise against the Englishe nacion, saiyng: that God was turned
Engtishe, and the deuill would not helpe Fraunce.
THE duke of Alauson, whiche as you haue heard, was late deliuered out of En<£lande,
reuiued again the dull spirites of the Dolphyn, and the fainte hartes of his capitaines, pro-
nn'syng to theim greate victory with litle trauail, and much gain with srnal labor, wherfore
in hope of good lucke, he determined to do some notable feate against thenglishe men.
Then happened a chaunce vnloked for, or vnthoughtof, euen as they would haue \vhisshed
or desired, for not onely the Magistrates, but chiefly the spiritual persons of the citee of
Mauns, knowyng that the duke of Britayne and his brother, were reuerted and turned to
the French partie, began sore to mourne and lament that they wer subiectes and vassals to
the yoke an.d power of the Englishemen. Wherfore they determined and fully concluded, to
aduertise of their myndes and determinacions, the capitaines of Charles y dolphyn, (of the
called the Frenche kyng) and so by certain false Friers, therof <vrote humble and louin<r let-
ters. These newes pleased much the French capitaines, but no lesse you may be sure the
Dolphyn hymself, as a thyng discended from heauen, of theim vnsought, vnimagined and
not deuisecl. Wherfore to take oportunitie when time serued, and not to lese so great a be-
nefite so honestly oftred, the lordes Delabreth and Fayet, Marshals of Fraunce, accompanied
with the lordes of Monte Ihan, of Duel Doruall, Torsye and Beaumamoyre the Heire, and
Gullyam his brother, and fine hundred other hardy capitaines and valiaunt souldiers, toke
vpon theim this enterprise, sendyng great thankes and laudes to the Clergie and citezens
for their assured fideliiie to their soueraigne lord, promysyng theim to be there at the daie
appoynted, not doubtyng to find them redy accordyng to their promes, gladly to receiue
them.
WHEN the daie assigned and the night appoynted was come, the Frenche capitaines pri-
uely approchecl the toune, makyng a litle fire on an hill in the sight of the toune, to sigmfie
their couryng and approchyng. The citezes, which by the great church wer loking foAheir
approch, shewed a hurnyng Cresset out of the steple, which sodainly was put out &
quenched. What should I saie, the capitaines on horssebacke came to the gate, and the
traytors within slew the porters and watch men, and let in their frendes, the footemen en-
tered firste, and the men of armes waited at the barriers, to the intent that if muche nede
required
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 143
required or necessitie copelled, they might fight in the ope feld. And in the mean season
many Englishmen wer slain, and a greate ciaymor and a houge noye was hard through
the toune, as is wont and accustomed to be in a toune, by treason sodainly surprised & taken:
but what was the cause of the cry, or beginnyngof the noyse, fewe except the confederates,
ether knewe or perceiued. For the remnaunt of the citezens beyng no partakers in this fac-
cion, imagined that the Englishmen had made hauocke in the toune and put all to the
sweard. The Englishemen on the othersyde, Judged that the citezens had begonne some
new rebellion against theim, or els had striuen emongest theimselfes. The erle of Suffolke,
whiche was gouernor of the toune, hearyng the clamor and noyse of the people, hauing per-
fect knowledge of such as escaped fro the walles, in what case the citee stode in, without
any tariyng or psolongyng of tyme entered into the Castle which standeth at the gate of
Sainct Vincent, wherof was Constable Thomas Gower esquier: whether also fled so many
Englishemen, that the place was pestured, and there if they wer not rescued, likely to be
famished : but surely they wer sore assauted and marueilously hurte, with the shot of the ala-
blatters & crosse bowes, but they defended theimselfes so manfully, that their enemies gat
small aduantage at their handes. But all their hardines had notserued, nor all their poliicy
had not defended theim, if they had not priuely sent a messenger to the lorde Talbot, which
then lay at Alanson, certefiyng hym in what case they stoode, for vitaHl had they none, mu-
nicios tailed, and the Castle was almoste vndermined, so that yeldyng must folowe, and re-
sistaunce could not. preuaile. The lorde Talbot hcryng these nevves, neither slept nor ban-
quetted, but with all hast assembled together his valiaunt capitaines, whose names you haue
before often times heard rehersed, to the nombre of vii. hundred men of warr, and in the
euenyng departed from Alanson, and in the mornyng came to a castle called Gtiyerche
twoo myles from Mauns, and from thence sent as an espial Matthew Gough, to espie the
gouernaunce of the enemies, and if he might to sbewe to his countreymeu that he was at
hade to be their aide & rescowes. Matthew Gough so well sped, that priuely in the night
lie carne into the castle, where he knew how that the French men beyng lordos of the citee,
and now castyngno perils nor iearyng any creature, began to waxe wanton and felle to riote,
as though their enemies could do to them no damage :- thynkyng that the Englishemen
whiche wer shut vp in the Castle, studied nothyng but how to escape and be deliuered.
Whe Matthew Gough had knowen al the certaintie and had eaten a litle breade and dronke a
cuppe of wine to comfort his stomacke, he priuely returned again, itnd within a mile of the
citee met with the lorde Talbot and the Lorde Scales, and made open to theim al thyng ac-|
cording to his credence, whiche to spede the matter, because the day approched, with al hast;
possible came to the posterne gate, and alighted from their horses, and about sixe of the;
clocke in the mornyng thei issued out of the castle criyng sainct George, Talbot. The
French men which wer scace vp, and thought of nothyng lesse then of this sodain approch-
ment, some rose out of their beddes in their shertes, and lepte ouer the walles, other ranne
naked out of the gates for sauing of their lines, leuyng behynde theim all their apparcll,
horsscs, armure and riches, none was hurt but suche, whiche ether resisted or would not
yelde, whcrof some wer slain and cast in prisone. There were slain and taken foure hun-
dred geilemen and the villaines frankely let go. After this inquisition was made of the au-
thors of this vngracious coniuracion, and there were accused thirtie citezens, twenty priestes
and fiftene Friers, which accordyngto their desertes were put in execution.
If THE SIXT YERE.
THE citee of Mauns thus beyng reduced into the Englishe mennes handes, the Lorde The.*;.
Talbot departed to the toune of Alanson. After whiche marciall feat manly acheued, the ym
erle of \Varwicke departed into Englande, to be gouernour of the young kyng, insteade of
Thomas duke of Excester, late departed to God. In \yhose stede was sent into Fraunce,,
the
THE. Vt YERE OF
the lorde Thomas Mountacute erle of Salisbury with fiue thousande men, whiche landed at
Caliceand so came to the Duke of Bedford in Paris. Where he consultyng with the Duke,
of Bedforde, concernyng the aftaires of the realme of Fraunce: seyng all thynges pros-
perously succede on the Englishe part, began meruailously to phantesie the citee and coun-
trey of Orliance, stadyng on the riuer of Loyre. But because the cite was wel fortified
bolhe by the nature of the situation of the place, and by the ppllicie of man, he imagined
it not the woorke of one daie, nor the study of one houre. Wherfore he remitted it to a
farther deliberacio, yet he was the man at that tyme, by whose wit, strength and pollicio,
jthe Englishe name was muche fearfull and terrible to the French nacion, whiche of hymself
might both appoynt, commaunde and do all thynges, in maner at his pleasure, in whose
power, (as it appeared after his1 deathe) a greate part of the conquest consisted and was
estemed, because he was a man both painful and diligent, redy to withstand thynges peril-
ous and imminent, and prompt in counsail, and with no labor be weried, nor yet his corage
at any tyme abated or appalled, so that all men put no more trust in any one man* nor, no
synguler person gat more the hartes of all men. After this greate enterprise, had long been
debated and argued, in the priuie counsaill, the erle of Salisburies dcuise, (although it
seined harde and straungc to all other, and to hym as it wer a thyng predestinate very easie)
was graunted and allowed, which enterprise was the finall conclusion of his naturall des-
tiny, as you shall shortely perceiue. Thus he replenished with good hope of victory, &
furnished with artilery, and inunicions apperteinyng to so greate a siege, accompanied with
the erle of Suffolke and the lorde Talbot, and with a valiaunt company, to the nombre of
tenne thousande men, departed from Paris and passed through the countrey of Beause. He
toke by assaute th'e toune of Yainuile, but the Frenchmen fled into the Castle, and there
continued fiue dales, at the ende wherof they rendered themselfes symply: of thesaid nom-
bre, some were put to death for certain causes, & some were taken to mercie. He tooke
also the toune of Eawgency, sufferyng euery man, whiche would become vassaile and sub-
iecte to the kyng of England, to enheritc their landes and enioy their goodes. The tounes
•of Meun vpon Loyre & largenan, hearyng of these treatise, presented to hym the keyes
of the toune, vpon like agrement & egall condicions.
AFTER this in the moneth of September, he laied his siege on the one side of the water
of Loyre, before whose commyng, the Bastarde of Orleaunce, and the bishop of the citec
and a great nombre of Scottes, hearyng of therles intent, made diuerse fortificacions about
the toune and destroyed the suburbes, in the which wer twelfe parishe churches and foure
ordres of Friers. They cut also doune al the vines, trees-and bushes within fiue leages of
the toune, so that the Englishmen should haue neither comfort, refuge nor succor.
HERE must I a litle digresse, and declare to you, what was this bastard of Orleance,
whiche was not onely now capitain of the citce, but also after, by Charles the sixt made
erle of Dunoys, and in great authoritie in Fraunce, and extreme enemie to the Englishe
n.icion, as by this story you shall apparauntly perceiue, of whose line and steme dyscend
the Dukes of Longuile and the Marques of Rutylon. Lewes Duke of Orleance murther-
ed in Paris, by Ihon duke of Burgoyne, as yon before haue harde, was owner of the Cas-
tle of Coney, on the Frontiers of Fraunce toward Arthoys, wherof he made Constable the
lord of Cauny, a man not so wise as his wife was faire, and yet she was not so faire, but
she was as well beloued of the duke of Orleance, as of her husband. Betwene the duke
and her husbande (I cannot tell who was father) she conceiued a child, and brought furthe
a pretye boye called Ihon, whiche child beyng of the age of one yere, the duke disceased
and not long after the mother, and the Lorde of Cawiry ended their liues. The next of
kynne to the lord Cavvny chalenged the enheritaunce, whiche was worth foure thousande
,crounes a yere, alledgyng that the boye was a bastard : and the kynred of the mothers side,
for to saue her honesty, it plainly denied. In conclusion, this matter was in contencio
before the Presidentes of the parliament of Paris, and there hang in controuersie till the
child came to the age of eight yeres old. At whiche tyme it was demaunded of hym openly
whose
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
whose sonne he wns: his fredes of his mothers side aduertised him to require a day, to be
aduised of so great an answer, whiclie he asked, & to hym it was granted. In y meane
season his said frendes persuaded him to claiine his inheritaunce, as sonne to the Lorde of
Cawny, which was an honorable liuyng, and an aunciet patrhnony, affirming that if he
said contrary, lie not only slaudered his mother, shamed himself, & stained his blond, hut-
also should liaue no liuyng nor any thing to take to. The scholemaster thinkytig y his dis-
ciple had well learned his lesson, and would reherse it accordyng to his instruccio, brought
hym before the ludges at the daie assigned, and when the question was repcted to hym
again,- he baldly answered, my harte geueth me, £ my noble corage telleth me, that I am
the sonne of the noble Duke of Orlcaunce, more glad to be his Bastarde, with a mcane
liuyng, then the lawfujl sonne of that coward cuckolde Canny, with his foure thousande
crounes. The Justices muche merueiled at his bolde answere, and his mothers cosyns de-
tested him for shamyng of his mother, and his fathers supposed kinne reioysed ingainyng the
patrimony and possessions. Charles duke of Orleance hcryng of this iudgement, toke hvm
into! his family & £aue him great offices & fees, which he well deserued, for (duryng his'
captiuitie) he defcded his lades, expulsed thenglishmen, & in conclusion procured his d^-
liueraunce.
THIS coragious Bastard, after the siege had continued threwekes ful, issued out of the
gate of the bridge, and fought with the Englishemen, but they receiued hym with so fierce and
terrible strokes, that he was with all his company compelled.. to retire and flie backe into the
citce: But the Englishemen folowed theim so faste, in killyng and takyng of their enemies,
that they entrcd with them the Bulwarke of the bridge, whiche with a gi eate ton re, standing
at thende of thesame, was taken incontinent by thenglishmen. In whiche conflict many
Frenchemen were taken, but rno were slain, and the kepyng of the ton re and Bulwerke was
comitted to William Glasdaleesquier. When he had gotten this Bulwarke, he was sure thi:t,
by that waie neither man nor vitaill could passe or come. After that he made certayne Bul-
warkes roiide about the citee, castyng. trenches betwene the one and the other, laiyng ordi-
naunce in euery part, where he saw that any battery might be deuised. When they within
perceiued that they were enuiroried with fortresses and ordinance, they laied gonne against
gonne, and fortefied toures against bulwarkes, and within made new rampires, andbuvldcd
new mudwalles to auoyde crackes and breches, whiche might by violent shot sodainlv insue.
They appoyntcd the Bastard of Orleance, and Stephin Veignold called the Heire, .to see the
walles and watches kept, & the bishop sawey thinhabitates within the cite, wer put in good
ordre, and that vitaill wer not wantonly consumed, nor vainly spent.
IN the toure that was taken at the bridge ende, as you before- haue heard, there was a
high chamber hauyng a grate full of barres of yron by the whiche a man might loke all the
length of the bridge into the cite at which, grate many of the chief capitaines stode diuerse
times, yieuyng the cite & deuisyng in what place it was best assautable. They within the citee
perceiued well this totyng hole, and laied a pece of ordynaunce directly against the wyndowe.
It so chaunced that the. lix. daie after the siege laied before the citee, therle of Salisbury,
sir Thomas Gargraue and William Glasdale and diuerse other, went into thesaid toure and
so into the high chabre, and loked out at the grate, and with in a short space, the sonne of
the Master gonner, perceiued men lokyng out at the wyndowe, toke his matche, as his
father had taught hym, whiche was gone doune to dinner, and fired the gonne, whiche brake
& sheueredy yron barres of the grate, wherof one strake therle so strogly on the bed, that
it stroke away one of his iyes and the side of his cheke. Sir Thomas Gargraue was likewise
striken, so that he died within two daies. Therle was conueighed to Meurn vpon Loyre,
where he laie beyng wounded, viij. daies, duryng whiche tyme, he receiued deuoutly the holy
Sacramentes, and so commended liis soule to almighty God, whose body was cpnueyed into
England, with allfunerall and pompe, and buried at Bissam by his progenitors, leuyng behind
him, an onely daughter named Alice, maried to Richarde Neuell, sonne to liaufe erle of
Westmorland, of whom hereafter shalbe made mention. Wrhat detriment, what damage,
U what-
THE. VI. YERE OF
what lossc succeded to the Englishe publique wealthe, by the sodain death of this valiaunt
capitain, not long after his departure, manifestly apered. For high prosperitie, and groat
glory of the Englishe nacion in the parties beyond the sea, began shortely to fall, and litle
and litle to vanishe awaie: which thing although the Englishe people like a valiant & strong
body, atthefirste tyme did not perceiue, yet after y they felt it grow like a pestilet humor,
which succesciuely a litle and litle corrupteth all the membres, and destroyeth the bodf. For
after the death of this noble man, fortune of warre began to change, and triumphant victory
began to bedarckened. Although the death of therle were dolorous to]all Knglishme, yet
surely it was moste dolorous to the duke of Bedford, regent of Fraunce, as he whiche had
loste his right hand or lacked his weapon, when he should fight with his enemie. Jiut
seyng that dedde men cannot with sorowe be called again, nor lamentacion fordedde bodies
cannot remedy the chaunces of men liuyng: he (like a prudent gouernor & a pollitique pa-
tron) appointed the erle of Suffolke to be his leuetenunt, and captain of the siege, and ioyned
with hym the lord Scales, the lorde Talbot, sir Ihon Fastolfe, and diuerse other valiaunt
knightes and esquiers. These lordes caused bastiles to be made round about the citee,
with the whiche they troubled their enemies and assauted the walles, and left nothyng vn-
attempted, whiche might be to theim, any aduantage, or hurtefull to their enemies.
IN the time of lent vitaile and artillerie, began to waxe scant in the Englishe armie, wher-
fore therle of Suffolke appointed sir Ihon Fastolfe, sir Thomas Rampsto, and sir Philip Hal ~
with their retinewes, to ride to Paris to the lord Regent, to informe him of their scarcenes
and necessitie. Whiche beyng therof informed, without any delaye or prolongyng, prouided
vitaile, artillery and municions, necessary and conuenient for so greate an enterprise, and
laded therwith many chariottes, cartes, and horsses, and for the surecoduite, and sauegard
of the same, he appoynted sir Simon Morhier Prouos/of Paris, with the gard of the citee
& diuerse of his awne housholdseruauntes, to accompany sir Ihon Fastolfe and his coplices,
to the army liyng at the siege of Orleaunce. The whiche departed in good ordre, to the
nombre of. v. hundred men of war, beside wagoners out of Paris, and came to Yaynuile
in Beausse, aud in a mornyng early in a greate frost they departed, from the place toward die
siege, and when they came to a toune called Ronuray, in the laiides of Beausse, they per-
cciued their enemies comyng against them, to the nombre of. ix. or. x. M. Frenchemen &
Scottes: the capitaines wherof was Charles of Cleremot, sonne to the duke of Burbon, then
beyng prisoner in Englande, sir William Stewarde Constable of Scotlande, alitle before de-
liuered out of captiuitie, the erle of Perdriacke, the lord Ihon Vandosme, Vidane ofCharters,
the Lorde of Touars, the lorde of Lohat, the lorde of Eglere, the Lorde of Beaniew, the
Bastard Tremorle, and many other valiant capitaines. Wherfore sir Ihon Fastolfe and his-
cqmpanions, set all their company in good ordre of battaill, and picked stakes before euery.
Archer, to breke the force of the horsemen. At their backes they set all their wages and
cariages, and within theim thei tied all their horsses, so that their enemies could nether assails-
them on the backeside, nor yet spoile them of their horsses, and in this maner they stode.
still, abidyng the assaute of their aduersaries. The Frenchmen (by reason of their greats
nombre) thinking the victory to be in their handes, egerly like Lions set on the Englishmen,,
whiche with greate force, them receiued and manfully defended : for it stode theim vpon,
consideryng the inequalitie of the nombre. And after long and cruell fight the Englishmen
droue backe and vanquished the proude Frenchemen, and compelled theim to flie. In this
conflict were slain, Lorde Willyam Stewarde Constable of Scotlande and his brother, the
lorde Doruall, the lorde Delabret, the lorde Chasteanbrian, sir Ihon Basgot, and other
Frenchmen & Scottes, to the nombre of. xxv. C. and aboue xj. hundred taken prisoners,
although some French writers affirme the nombre lesse.
AFTER this fortunate victory, sir Ihon Fastolfe and his company (of the whiche no man
of any reputacion was either slain or taken,) came with all their cariages, vitaile, and pri-
soners, to, the siege before Orleance, where they wer Joyously receiued & welcomed of all the
souldiors.
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 147
souldiors. This conflict (because the most part of the cariage was heryng & lenten stuffe,^
the Frenchmen call, the vnfortunate battail of herynges.
THE Erie of Suffolke, beeyng thus vitailed, continued his siege, and cuery daic almoste,
skirmished with his enemies, whiche being in dispaire of all succors, began to cornea
emongest theimself, how they might rendre the toune, to their inoste hcnou re and profile.
After muche reasoning, and long debatyng emongest the capitaines, and the magistrates of
the toune, what way was best to be folowed: Some iffirmed it not onely to be shamefull and
dishonorable, but also vnnaluralland vnreasonable, to yelde the toune to the Englishcmen,
beyng neither frendes nor fauorers of the French nucion : other, fe.iryng the victory of the
Englishmen, imagined, that if they by force possessed the citee, they would do to them as
tyrantes be accustomed toserue, wilfulland obstinate people, and therefore they thought it a
greate folye and a notable lightnes, not to beware the one, as to deny or refuse the other.
But when they saw, that their glory must nedes decline to a shame & reproche, they
thought to find a meane waye to saue themselfes, and their cite fro the captiuitie of then-
enemies, and deuised to submit their citee theselfes, & al theirs vnder the obeysance of
Phillip duke of Burgoyn because he was brought out of the stocke and bloud royall of the
auncient hous of Fraunce: thinkyng by this meanes (as thei did in deede) to breke or
minishe the greate amitie betwene the Englishemen & hym.
AFTER this poynt concluded, they made open & sent to the duke all their deuises and
intentes whiche certified the that he would gladly receiue their oflVe, so that the Regent of
Fraunce would therto agre & cosent. And therupo dispatched certain ambassadors to the
duke of Bedford, to whom these newes wer straunge and not very plesaunt, vpon whiche
poynt, he assembled a great counsaill. Some thought that maner of yeldyng to be bothe l.o-
norable and profitable to the king of Englande, by reason wherof, so greate a citee, & so
riche a countrey, should be brought out of the possessio of their enemies, into the hades of
their trusty frendes, without farther cost or bloudshed. The Duke of Bedford & other, wer
of a contrary opinion, thinkyng it bothe dishonorable and vnprolitable to the rea'me of Eng-
land, to se a cite so long besieged at the costes & expenses of the kyng of England, & almoste
brought to the poynt of yeldyng, to be yclded to any other fore prince or potestate, and not to
hym or his Regent, the example wherof might prouoke other tounes heraftcr to do the same.
This reason toke place, and the Regent answered the dukes ambassadors, that it was not
honorable nor yet c5sonaunte to reason, that the kyng of Englande should beate the bushe
and the duke of Burgoyn should haue the birdes: Wherfore sithe the right was his, the war
was his, and the charge was his, he saied that y citie ought not to be voided to no other
person, but to hym or to his vse and profile. By this litle chance, succedcd a great change
in thenglishe affaires, for a double mischief of this answere rose and sprang out. For first
the duke of Burgoyne, began to conceiue a certain priuye grudge against thenglishrnen for
this cause: thynkyng the to enuy & beare malice against his glory and proiite, for the whiche
in continuance of lime he became their enemy, and cleued to the French Kyngv Secondly,
the Englibhcmen left the siege of Orleaunce, whiche by this treaty they might haue had to
frend, or to haue continued neutre, till their Lord the duke of Orleaunce, or the erle of
Angulosie his brother wer deliuered out of the captiuitie of the English people. But if men
wer angels and forsaw ihyngesto come, ihey like beasles would nolronne to their confusion:
but fortune which gideth die destiny of man, will lurne her whele as she listeth, whosoeuer
sailh nay.
WHILE this treaty of the Orleaunces was in hand, Charles the dolphin, daily studied
and hourly labored, to plucke the fauor and hartes of the noL>i!itie of Fraunce, from the
Englishe nacion, to the intent, that he might assemble a puyssance, sufficient to relefe
his frendes, beyng shut vp in the citee of Orleauce. While he was studiyng and com-
passyng this matter there happened to hym, a straunge chaunce, of the whiche I will
write a litle, because some of the Frenchc aucthours, and especially Ihon Bouchet, of it
writeth to muche.
U 2 FOR
148 THE. VI. YERE OF
FOR as he and other saie, there came to hym beyng at Chynon a mayd of the age of. xx.
yeres, and in mans apparell, named lone, borne in Burgoyne in a toune called Droymy
beside Vancolour, which was a greate space a chamberleyn in acommen hosiery, and was a
rampe of suclie boldnesse, that she would course horsses and ride theim to water, and do
thynges, that other yong maidens, bothe abhorred & wer ashamed to do: yet as some say,
whether it wer- because of her foule face, that no man would desire it, either she had made a
vowe to liue chaste, she kept her maydcnhed, and presented her virginitic. She (as a mon-
ster was sent to the Dolphin, by sir Robert Baiulrencort captain of Vancolour, to who she
declared, that she was sent fro God, bothe to aide themiserable citee of Orleaunce, and also
to remit hym, to the possession of his realme, out of the whiehe,, he was ex pulsed and ouer-
comed: rehersyng to hym, visions, trauses, and tables, full of blasphemy, supersticio and
hypocrisy, that I maruell much that wise men did beleue her, and lerned clarkes would write
suche phantasies. What should I reherse, how they saie, she knewe and called hym her
kyng, whom she neuer saw before. What should I speake how she had by reuelacion a
swei'de, to her appoynted in the churchc of saincte Katheryn, of Fierboys in Torayne where
she neuer had been. What should I write, how she declared suche priuy messages from
God, our lady, and other sainctes, to the dolplr n, that she made the teres ronne doune
fro his iyes. So was he deluded, so was he blynded, & so was he dcceiued by the deuils
meanes which suffred her to begynne her race, and inconclusion rewarded her with a
shameful fal. But in the meanc season suche credite was geuen to her, that she was honoured
as asainct, of the religious, and beleued as one sent from God of the temporaltie, in so
muche that she (armed at all poyntes) rode from Poytiers to Bloys, and ther found men of
war vitail, and municjons, redy to be conueyed to Orleatice. The Englishmen perceiuyng
that they within could not long continue, for faute of vitaile& ponder, kepte not their watche
so diligently as they wer accustomed, nor scoured not the coutrcy enuironed, as thei before
had ordained : which negligence, the citezens shut in perceiuyng, sent wordc thcrof to the
Frenche capitaines, whiehe wi.li Puccl/e in the dedde tvmc of the niglit, and in a greate
rayne and thundre, with all their vitaile and artilery entered into the citee. If thei were wel-
comed marueill not, for folkes in greate trouble, be ioyous of a litle comfort. And the
nextdaie the Englishemen boldely assauted the tonne, promisyng to theim that best scaled the
walles great rewardes. Then men mounted on ladders coragiousiv, and with gonnes, arrowes
and pikes, bette their enemies from the wailes.
THE Frenchemen, although they marueiled at the fierce fightyng of the English people,
yet thei wer not amascd, but they defended them selfes to the darke night, on whiehe
daie, no great priuate feate worthy of memory, was either attempted or doen. The Bastard
of Orleaunce (seyng the puyssaunce of thenglishe nacion) began to feare the sequele of the
matter: wherfore he sent worde to the duke of Alannson, aduertisyri£ hym in what case the
tonne then stoode, and that it could not long continue without his hasty spede, and qiiicke
diligence. Whiehe delaiyng no tymc nor deterryng no space came with all his army within
two leagues of the citee, and sent woorde to tiie capitaines, that on the next inorowe they
should be rccly to receiue theim. Whiehe thyng, the nexie daic they accomj>lished, for the
Englishernen thought it to be muche to their auaile, if so greate a multitude entered into the
citee, vexed with famyne & replenished with scarsenes. On the next daie in the mornyng,
the Freuchemen altogether issued out of the toune, and assauted the fortresse or Bastile,
called the Bastyle of sainct Lou re, the whiehe with great force and no litle losse they toke
and set it on fire, and after assauted the ton re at the bridge ibote, which was manfully de-
fended. But the Frenchemen beyng more in nombre, so fiersely assauted it, that they toke
it or the LordeTalbot could come to succors: in the whiehe Willyam Gladdisdale the capi-
tain was s-lain, and the Lorde Morlyns, and thelorde Pownynges also.
THE Frenchemen puffed vp with this good lucke, seyng the strong fortres was vngotten,
, whiehe was vnder the defence of the lorde Talbot, fetched a compasse abor;te, and in good
ordre of battaile marched thether ward. The lord Talbot like a capitain, without fere or
dred
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 149
dred of so great a multitude, issued out of his Bastile, and so fiersly fought with the Frenche—
men, that they not'able to withstande his puyssaunce, fled (like bhcpj before the Wolffe)
again into the citee, with greate losse of men and small artilerie: and of the Englishemen
wer lost in the two Bastyles sixe hundred presones. Then the erle of Sufiblke, the Lorde
Talbot, the Lorde Scales, and other capitaines, assembled together, where causes wer shewed,
that it was bothe necessary and conueniente either to leue the siege for euer, or to deferre it
till another tyme, more luckey & conuenient. And to the intent that thei should not seme
either to flie or to be driuen from the siege by their enemies, they determined to leaue their
fortresses and Bastyles, and to assemble in the plain feld and there to abydc all the daie, a,bi-c
dyng the outcommyng and baltaile of their enemies. This conclusion taken, was accord-
yngly executed. The Frenchemen, weried with the last bickeryng, held in their heddes and
durste not once appere: and so thei set fire in their lodgyngcs, and departed in good ordre
of battail from Orleaunce. The next daie whiche was the. viij. daie of Maie, the Erie of
Suftblke, ridyng to largeaux with. CCCC. Englishmen, and the lord Talbot with another
copany returned to Meum which" tonne, after that he had fortified, he incontinent, assauted
and wan the toune of Lauall and the Castle sore vexyng and punishyngthe tounes men, for
their hard hartes, and cancard obstinacie: and leuyng there a garrison reculed to Meum.
AFTER this siege thus broken vp to tell you, whattriumph.es wer made in the citee of
Orlaaunce, what wood was spente in fiers, what wyne wasdronke in houses, what songes wer
song in the stretes, what melody was made in Tauernes, what roundes were daunced, in
large and brocle places, what iightes were set vp in the churches, what anthemes, wer song in
Chapellcs, and what ioye was shewed in cuery place, it were, a long woorke and yet no ne-
cessary cause.- For they did as we in like case would haue dooen, and we being in like
estate, would haue doen as they did. After that the Englishmen, wer thus retired from the
siege of Orleaunce, and seuered themselfes in cliuer?e tonnes & fortresses, holdyng on their-"
part: The duke of Alaunson, the Bastard of (Meat) nee, lone the puzell, the lorde of Gan-
cort, & thuerse other Frenche men came before the toune of largeaux, where the ei le of
Suffolke and his twoo brethren soiorned the. xij. .'daie of lune, and gaue to the toune a great
and a terrible assaut, wliiche the Englishmen, (beyng but a handful! ) manfully defended on
three paries of the same. Poyton of Sentrailes, perceiuyngone part of the toune to be vn-
defended, scaled the walles on that part: and without any diiuculte toke the toune, and
-siewesir Alexander Pole brother to therle, and many other, to the nomlvre of two hundred:
but they not muchegaynedj for they lost. iii. C. good men and more. Of thenglishmen wer
-taken, xl. be: -ide his brother Iho. After this gain and good lucke, the Frenchcmen returnyng
towarde Orleaunce, fell in contention and debate, for their captiucs and prisoners, and
"Slewe them all, sauyngthe crle and his brother,
«T THE SEUENTil Yi:RE.
AFter the gaynyng of the toune of largeaux, the same array cam to Meuin, and tokc the iv.vi-:,
toure at t!ie bridge, and put there in a garrison, and fro thence remoue-.l to Bangency. ye"Cj
Whiche garrison, beyng not vitailed rendered the toune, so that they might departe with i'bagce
and baggage, frankely and frely: whiche dc.sire to the was graunted. 'At this toune of Ban-
gency, met with the duke of Alaunson, Arthur of Brilayna, the false .forsworne gentleman
to the kyng ofEnglande newly made Constable of Fraunce (as you haue heard,) with whom
was tiie lord Delabret with. xij. C. men : to whom daily repaired freshc aide out ofeuery paut,
as the Erie of Vandosme, and other, to the nombre of. xx. or. xx'tij. M men. All these
menofwarre, determined to go to Meum, and to take the toune, but they wer informed,
that the Englishemen, had leftethe toune desolate, and wer returned to tiie lord Talbot to
leneuile. Then thei concluded to passe towarde that toune. But, as they marched forwarde
vpon a Sateidaie, thei had perfite knowledge, that the lorde Talbot with, v, thousand men,
4 was
-150 THE. VII. YERE OF
Avas commyng to Meum. Wherfore, thei intendyng to stop hym a tyde, conueyed their
.company to asm-all village called Patay, vvhiche way, they knewe that the Englishmen must
nedes passe by. And first they appoynted their horsemen, whiche were well and richely fur-
bished, to go before, and sodainly to set on the Englishemen, or they wer, either ware or
setinordre. The Englishmen commyng forwarde, perceiued the horsemen, and, imaginyng
to deceiue their enemies, commaunded the fotemen to enuirone & enclose theselfes about with
their stakes, but the French horsmen came on so fiersly, that the archers had no leyser, to
set themselfes in a raie. There was no remedy but to fight at aduenture. This battaill, co-
tinued by the space of thre long hou res. And although thenglishmen wer ouerpressed, with
the noiubre of their aduersaries, yet thei neuer fledde backe one foote, till their capitain the
lorde Ta loot, was sore wounded at the backe, and so taken. Then their hartes began to
faint, & thei fled in whiche flight, ther wer slain aboue. xij. C. and taken, xl. wherof the lorde
Talbot the lord Scales, the lord Hungerford, & sir Thomas Rampston, were the chief: howbeit
diuerse archers whiche had shot all their arrowes, hauyng only their swerdes, defended the-
self, and with the help of some of the horsmen, ca safe to Meu.
WHEN the fame was blowen abrode, that the Lorde Talbot was taken, all the French-
men not alitle reioysed, thinkyng surely, that now the rule of the Englishmen, should
shortly assuage and waxe faint : for feare wherof, the tounes of leneuile, Meu, Fort, and
diuerse other, returned from the Englishe part, and became Frenche, to the greate dis-
pleasure of the Regent. Fro this battaill, departed without any stroke striken, sir Ihon
Fastoiffe, thesarne yere for his valiauntnes elected into the ordre of the Garter. For
whiche cause the Duke of Bedford, in a great anger, toke from hym the image of sainct
George, and his Garter, but afterward, by meane of frendes, and apparant causes of good
excuse by hym alledged, he was restored to the order again, against the mynd of 'the lorde
Talbot. "
CHARLES, callyng hymsclf Frenche kyng, beyng aduertised of this victory, thought
now, that al thynges succeded, accordyng to his opinion and good hope, whiche euer, was
of that hie corage and haut mynd, that in his moste aduersitie, he neuer dispaired in good
lucke at length: so that the Erie of Salisbury beyng dedde, and the lorde Talbot liuin<r in
captiuitle, (which wer y glory of his enemies) he thought to enterprise great and waighty
thynges, wner before he rnedeled with small and litle doynges. For fulfillynsf of his mynd
and appetite, he determined, first to conquere the citee of Reynes, to the intent, that he
beyng there, might accordyng to the fashion of his progenitors, with all accustomed Cere-
monies, be sacred and anoynted kyng with the holy ampulle, that all men niight se and
perceiue, that he was, by all lanes and decrees, a iust and a lawfull kyng. Wherfore he
assemblyng to gether a great army, & hauyng in his company lone the Puzel, whom he
vsed as an oracle and a southsaier, passed through Champaigne, by the toune of Anxer.
The within, sent to him messegers, praiyng him of certain daies of abslinece of war, in
ttie which (if they wer not rescued) they promised to rendre the toune. He not willing to
recornpenee with ingratitude, the louyng hartes of the cite/ens, graunted gently to their
peticion, and leuyng there certain persons, to se that they should not iugle with hym, de-
parted from thence to Troys, beyng the chief citie of Chapaigne, whiche he besieged, xii.
daies. Sir Phillip Hal capitain there, vnprouided bothe of vitai'l and men, mistwistyng,
that aide would not come in tyme, vpon ccposicion rendered the toune, so that he, £ his,
with all their moueables might in sauetie depart the citee: whiche demaund was agreed to.
After that Troys was voided, the comnionaltie of Chalons, rebelled against sir John A\v-
bemod their capitain, and constrained hym to deliuer the toune vpon like coposicion, whiche
against his wil, he was fain to do: and likewise did the citezens of Reyns, desiryng hym to
geue saueconduite to all Lnglishemen, safely to departe.
WHEN he had ihus conquered Reyns, he in the presence of all the noblemen of his faccion,
and the dukes of Lorayne and Barre, was sacred kyng of Frafice, by the name of Charles
ihe. vi. with all rites and ceremonies therto apperteinyng. Thei of Anxer which wer not
rescued
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1.51
rescued within the tyme appoynted, brought the kayes to hym, and submitted theirnselfes to
liis obeysaunce : likewise did all the citees and tounes adioynyng, geuyng thankes to almigh-
tie God, whiche hauyng compassion of their misery, had restored them to libertie and fre-
<lome. The Duke of Bedford, hearyng that these tounes and soyssons also, had returned
to the part of his aduersaries, and that Charles late Dolphyn had taken vpon hym the name
and estate of the kyng of Fraunce, and also, seyng that daily, citees and tounes returned
from thenglishe part and became Frenche, as though the Englishmen had now lost all
their hardy chieftaines and valiaut men of warre, espied and eu'idently perceiued, that the-
laste and vttennoste poynt of recouery, was driuen only to ouercome by battaill, and to
subdue by force. By whiche victory, (as he putte his confidence in God) he trusted not
onely to scourge and plague the citees, whiche were so sodainly chaungeable, but also to-
assuage and caulme the haute corage of the newe sacred Frenche kyng and his comi a-
nions. Wherfore, he hauyng together, x. M. good Englishmen, (beside Normans) de-
parted out of Paris, in warlike fashid and passed through Brye to Monstrean Faultyow,
and there sente by Bedforde his herault letters to the Frenche kyng, alledgyng to hym that
he contrary to the lawes of God and man, yea, and contrary to the final! conclusion^
taken, concorded, and agreed betwene his noble brother kyng, Henry the fifth, and kyng
Charles, the. v. father to thesaid nowe vsurper, leuyng all humuyne reason and honest com-
municacion, (which sometyme appeaseth debates and pacifielh strifes) onely allured and
intised by a deuilishejvyjche, and a gflthanicall enchaunterese, had not onely falsely and
craftely, taken vpon hym, the name, title and dignitie of the kyng of Frauce: J3ut also
had, by murder, stelyng, craft, and deceiptful meanes, violently gotten, and wrongfully
kept, diuerse citees and tounes, belongyng to the kyng of Englande, his mpste best be-
loued lorde, and moste derest nephew. For profe wberof, he was come dourie from Paris,
with his armye, into the countrey of Brye, by dent of swerde and stroke of battaill, to
proue his writyng and cause trewe, willyng his enernie to chose the place, and he in the
same, would geue hym battayle.
THE newe Frenche kyng, departyng from his solempne Ceremonies at Reins, and re-
mouyng from thence to Dampmartine, studiyng how to compasse the Parisiens, ether with
money, or with promes, was somewhat troubled with this message, howbeit, he made a
freshe countenauee, & a Frenche brag, answeryng to the herault: that he would soner-
seke his Master, and the Duke should pnrsewe hym. The duke of Bedford hearyng his
aunswer, marched toward hym, and pitched his feld in a-strong place, and sent out dinerse
of his raungers, to prouoke the Frenchmen to come forward. The Frenche kyng was in
nianer determined to abyde the battaill, but when he hard saic by his espialles, that tha
power and nombre of the Englishemen, w.er to his army equal in power, he determined that
it was more for his profile, to abstain fro battaill without danger, then to entre into the con-
fticte with ieopardy : fearyng least that with a rashe corage, he might ouerthrowe al liis affaires
whiche so effecteously preceded. And so well aduisecl, he turned with his army, alitle out of
the waie. The duke of Bedford pefceiuyng his faint corage, folowed hvm by mountaines and
dales, tilt he came to a toune in Barre, not forre from. Senlys, where he found the Freeh,
kyng and his army. Wherfore he ordred his battail, like a man expert in marciall science,
settyng the archers before, and hymself with the noblemen in the mayne battaill, and put
the Normans on bothe sides for the wynges. The Frenche kyng also ordered his battailes,
accordyng to the deuise of his caprtaines. Thus, these twoo armies without any greate
doyng, (except a fewe skirmishes, in the whiche the dukes light horsmen did very vafiaunt-
ly) lay eche in sight of other, by the space of twoo daies and twoo nightes. But when tiie
Frenche kyng sawe, and perceiued, how glad, how diligent and. coragious the Englishmen wer
to fight and geue battail, he imagened that by his tariyng, one of these twoo thynges must
nedes chauce : that is to saie, either he should fight against his will, or lye still like a cowarde,
to his greate rebuke and infamy. Wherefore in the dedde of the night, (as priuely as he
could) he brake vp his campe and fled to Bray. When this flight was perceiued in the
mornyng,;
153 THE. VII. YEREOF'
mornyng, the Regent could scace refrain his people, from folowyng the Frenche army, call-
yng them, cowardes, dastardes, and loiites, and therfore, he perceiuing that by no mcanes,
he could allure the new Frenche kyng to abide battaill, mistrustyng the Parisias, and gcu-
yng no great crciiite to their faire, swete and fiatteryng woordes, returned again to Paris,
to assemble together a greater power, and so to prosecute his enemies.
IN this season, the Bohemians, (whiche belike had espied the vsurped authorise of the
bishop of Rome) began to rebell against-his sea, which, (as Eneas Siluius doth report wer;
i'alle into certain sectes of heresie. Wherefore, Martyn the fifth bishop of Rome, wrote
vnto them to abstain from warre, and to be reconciled by reason, from their damnable
opinions. But they, (beyng persuaded to the contrary) neither gaue eare vnto "hym, nor
yet obeyed his voyce. Wherfore the bishop of Rome, wrote to the princes of Germany,
to iimade \ realmes of Beanie, as the denne of heretikes, and cane of deuilishe doctryne.
Besyde this, he appoynted Henry bishop of Winchester, and Cardinall of. S, Eusebie, a
ma very \vel borne, (as you haue hard) but no better borne then high stomacked, and yet
ho higher stomacked, then abundantly enriched, to be his legate in this great iomey, and to
bryng out men from the realme of Englande, into the countrey of Beame. And because
tlie warre touched religion, he licenced the said Cardinall, to take the tenth part of euerv
spirituall dignitie, benefice, and promocio. This matter, was declared in open Parlia-
ment in* Englande, and not dissented, but gladly assented to, wherfore the bishop gathered
the money, and assembled foure thousand men and mo, not without great grudge of the
people, uhiche daily were with tallages and aides weried, and sore burdened. And when
men, mnnicions, and money wer ready for his hrght enterprise, he with ail his people came
to the sea stronde at Douer, ready to passe ouer the sea into Flanders.
liVT in the meane season, the Duke of Bedforde consideryng, how tonnes daily wer
gotten, and countries hourely vvonnc in the realme of Fraunce, for lacke of sufficient de-
fence and nombre of men of warre, wrote to his brother the duke of Gloucester, to releue
him with aide, in that tcmpestious tyrne and troubelous season. When this letter was
brought into Englande, the duke of Gloucester was not alitle amased, because he had no
army redy to sende at that tyme : for by the reason of the Crewe, sent into Beame, he
could not soclainly reyse a newe arrnye. But because the matter was of suche importaunce,
and might neither be, fro day to day differred, nor yet long delaied, he wrote to the bishop
of Winchester, to passe with all his army toward the duke of Bedford, whiche at that tyme
had bothe ncde of men and assistance, consideryng that now, all stoocle vpon losse or gaine
whiche thyng doen, and to his honor acheued, he might performe his iorney against the
•vngracious Bohemians. Although the Cardinall was somewhat moued with (his counter-
mauncle, yet least he should be noted, not to ayde the Regent of Fraunce, in so greate a
cause and so necessary an entreprise, he bowed from his former iorney, and passed the sea
with all his company, and brought them to his cosyn, to the citee of Paris.
CHARLES the Frenche kyng, hauyng knowledge in the meane season by his espialls,
which went round about the countrey, to intise and soliicitc tounes and citees, to returne
from the Englishe part, and become Frenche, that the inhabitates of Champeigne and
Beuauoys ought hym greate loue and synguler fauor, and gladly coueted to renounce the
subieccion of England, and to be vnder his proteccion, and also offred to open him their
gates, so that they should not therby, be in ieoperdy of their lifes and losse of their goodes,
with all haste & diligece remoued towarde Champeigne. The duke of Bedford beyng ad-
uertiscd of his progresse, and hauyng his armie augmented, with the new aide, whiche the
cardinal had of late conducted, marched forward with great spede to encountre and «eue
battaill, to his mortall enemy the Frenche kyng. When the duke was come to Senlys, the
Frenchemeri wer lodged on the Mountpilioll, betwene Senlis and Champiegne. Euery
army knew of other, and euery hoste might behold other. Then the capes wer trenched,
and the 'battailes pitched, and the feldes ordered. Thus, these great armies lay two daies,
nothyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 153
nothyng doyng but with skirmishes, in the whiche the Normans sore vexed the Frenche-
men. Wherfore, the lorde Regent, gaue to them many high laudes and praisynges, and
determined surely the next dale, to set on Uie French kyng in his cape, if he would not
remoue out, and abide battaill. But while kyng Charles did politiquely consider, what a
variable lady, Fortune was, and what a sodain and vnthought chauce of a small thyng, might
<Jo in a battaill : for the detrimentes and ouerthrowes, that he and his nacion had taken
and tasted by thenglishemen, wer to them a lernyng, an example and a plaine experiment,
to auoyde open ioynyng, mutual coflict, and force to force. .And beside that, he had by
his explorators and spies, plain and perfect knowledge, y many and diuerse citees & tounes
in Fraunce, abhorryng thenglislie libertie, and aspiryng to the French bondage and natiue
-seruitude, (accordyng to the nature of Asses, whiche tiie more they be charged with, the
more they desire) would, (whe they sawe their tyme) not onely rebell and returne to his
faccion and parte, but also were ready to aide and assi-te hym, in recoucry of his desired
realme and auncient dominion, in expeilyng also the Englishe nacion, out of the territories
of Fraunce. And therefore, he imagined that the duke of Bedforde, was so hasty to geue
hym battaill, thynkyng, that if he then wer oucrcome, the game had, for the Englishemen
been clerely gotten, & to the Frenchemen, a perpeluall checkemate. Wherfore he deter-
mined neuer, (except very necessitie compelled or constrained him) to fight in open battaill
with the Englishmen, nor by a feld to aduenturc his realme with the, of whom his prede-
cessors so often tymes had been vanquished. Wherfore, like a carpet capitaine he in the
night, remoued his campe and fled to Crespy, and yet his nobre was double to the Englishe
army. The duke of Bedforde, seyngthat the Frenche kyng was thus cowardly retrayted,
and as a man, whiche durste not once assaie the stroke of an Englishe arme, shamefully
reculed : with all his power and armie, returned agayn to Paris, sore suspectyng the de-
ceiptfull faith of the pollitique Parisians. The bishop of Winchester, after the Frenche
kynges flight, went into Beame, and there did somwhat, but what it was, authors kepe si-
lence, and so do I: But shortly, he without any greate praise, and small gayne, returned
into Englande, more glad of his retraite, then of his aduausyng fonvarde. Sone after, the
bishop of Rome without his agrement, vnlegated hym, and set another in his stede & au-
thoritie, with which doyng, he was neither cdtent nor pleased.
5f THE EIGHT YERE,
ON the vi. day of Nouembre, being theday of sainct Leonard, kyng Henry, in the eight Ttle- ,.-
ye re of his reigne, was, at Westminster with all pompe and honor, crouncd kyng of this- >•*«•
realme of England. At which coronacion, to reherse the costly fa ire, the delicate meate,
the pleasaunt wines, the nombre of courses, the sortes of dishes, the labors of officers, the
multitude of people, the estates of Lorcles, the beauties of Ladies, the riches of apparel!,
the curious deuises, the solempne banquettes, it would aske a long tyme, and wery you:
Wherfore leuyng the pleasaunt pastyme in England, I will returne to the troubleous warrcs
in Fraunce.
AFTER that the French kyng was fled from the duke of Bedford, (as you haue harde
before) and was come to Crespy in Valoys, he was credibly informed, how the citezens of
Champaigne, desired greatly to be vnder his gouernaunce and subieccion. Wherfore, he
.mindyng not to lese so faire an offred prey, ceased not, til he came to the toune, where,-
with all reuerence and benignitie, he was receiued and welcomed. And after that, were
rendered to hym, the tounes of Senlis and Beauoys. And the Lorde Longuenall tooke by
stelth, the castle of Aumarle and slewe all the Englishemen, and in short space, the lorde
Barbasan, whiche long had been prisoner in the Castle Gaylard, so muche, what with faire'
wordes and large promises, persuaded his kepers, that he not only deliuered his awne per-
soiie, but also caused the toune, to turne from thenglishmen, to the part of kyng Charles
X his
1.54 THE. VIII. YERE OF
his Master. Whiche kyng, although he muche reioysed, at the good successe, that Fortune
had to hym sente, yet he was somwhat desperate, how to recouer his conntrey from the pos-
session of the Englishemen, except he vnknitted the knotte and league, • bel wene the duke of
Burgoyn and them. Wherfore, he sent his Chauncellor, & diuerse Ambassadors to the
duke of Burgoyn, first, excusyng himself of the death & murder, of duke Ihon his father,
& after, declaryng to him, that there could be nothing more foule, more dishonest, nor more
detestable, then, for his awne peculiar cause, & pi iuate displeasure, to ioyne with his aun-
cient enemies, and perpetual aduersaries, against his natiue countrey and natural! nation:
not onely requiryng hym, of concord, peace, and arnitie, but also promisyng golden moun-
taines, and many more benefites, then at that tyme, he was either able or could performe.
This message was not so secrete, nor the doyng so closely cloked, but the Duke of Bedford,
therof was plainly informed. Whiche beyng sore troubled, and vnquieted in his mind,
because he sawe the power of thenglisl.e nation, daily waxe lesse, he, of all thynges, first
forseyng, if any losse should of necessitie chaunce, of those tounes and countreis, whiche
his noble brother, kyng Henry the fifth had conquered, in the very countrey of Fraunce, for
lacke of tuition or defence: yet for an ankerhold, he determined to kepe, possesse, and de-
' fende, the Dutchie of Normandy, the olde inheritaunce and aunciente patrimony, of the
kynges of Englande, and fro 'them onely, by force and not by iustice, by violence and not
by right, sithe the tyme of kyng Henry the t'hirde, (the deuilishe de-jii-ion then reignyng in
the realmej wrongfully deteined, and injuriously vsurped. Wherfore, he diligently pro-
uidyng, for thynges that might chaunce, appoynted gouernor of the citce of Paris, Lewes of
Luxenberough, bishop of Turwine and Ely, beyng Chauncellor of Fraunce, for the kyng of
England, a man of no lesse wit, then of birthc, leuyng with hym, a conuenient n ombre of
Englishemen to defende bothe the citee and territory of Paris, & the isle of Fraiice. then
beyng in the Englishmens possession and gouernaunce.
THESE thynges thus oidered, he departed from Paris, into Normandy, and called at
Roan a parliament, of 1 he t lire estates of the ducbie, in the whiche he declared vnto them,
the great liberties, the mani.bide priueleges, the innumerable benefites, whiche they had re-
ceiued of the kynges of Englande, duryng the tyme, that they wer possessors and iordes of
thesame duchie, not puttyng in obliuion, the mi.>ery, bondage, and calatnitie, whiche they
had sustained, by the intollerable yoke and daily tributes, continually layed in their neckes
like Asses, by the cruell and coueteous Frenchemen : and puttyng theim also in remetn-
braunce, how the kynges of England, wer not only brought furth and disceded, of the Nor-
mans bloud £ progeny, but wer the very true & vndouhtfu'l heires, to thesame countrey and
duchie, lineally succedyng & lawfully discendyng from Rollo the hardy, first duke and
prince of the same dominion: Requiryng theim farther, to line in lone and amitie emongest
theim self, to be true and obedient, to the kyng their soueraigne Lorde, and to kepe their
othe and proaies, made and sworne to his noble brother, kyng Henry the. v. prorriisyng to
them, Englishe libertie and priueleges royall. While the duke of Bedford was thus, inter-
tainyng and encoragyng the Normans, Charles the new Frenche kyng, beyng of his depar
ture aduertised, longyng and thrystyng for to obtain Paris, the chief citee & principal! place
of resort, within the whole real me of Fraunce, departed from the toune of SenliS well ac-
companied, and came to the toune of sainct Denise, whiche he found desolate, and aban-
doned of all garrison, and goodgouernauce. Wherfore, without force arid small damage, he
entered into the voyed toune, and lodged his armie at Monntmartyr, and Abberuilliers, riere
adioynyng, and liyng to the citee of Paris. And from thence, sent, Ihon duke of Alatnisoh,
and his sorceresse lone, (called the mayde, sent from (icd) in whom, his whole afh'au'nce
then consisted, with thve rbousande light hor^men, to get again the citie of Paris, either by
force, or by faire flatteryng, or reasonable trcatie, and after them, he without delaie or difer-
ryng of tyme, with all his power,, came betwene Moutmartyr and Paris, and sodainly, ap-
proched the gate of sainct Ilonore, settyng vp ladders to the wailes, and castyng faggoltes into
the cliches, as though, he would with a French bragge, sodainly haue gbtte the faire cite! ' "But
thenglishe
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. )55
thenglishe capitaines, euery one kepyng his ward and place assigned, so manfully and fiersly
with a noble forage, defended themselfes, their walles and toures, with the assistence of the
Parisians, that thei rebutted and draue a«aie the Frenchmen, & threwe doune lone, their
greate goddesse, into Hie botome of ilie toune ditchc, where she laie behynd the backe of an
Asse, sore hurte,' till the tyine tliat she all filthy with mire and duvte, was drawen out, by
Guyschard of Thienbrone, scruaunt to the duke of Alaunson. The Frenche Kyng, seyng
the greate losse, that he had sustcined at tins assaut, and accompted his pretensed conquest,
in raaner impossible, leuyng the dedde bodies behind hyra, and takyng with hyin, the
wounded capitaincs, whiche wer of no small nombre, returned into Berry. But in .the
uieane waie, tlie ciuzens of Laignie, became his subiectes, and made to hyin an othe, pro-
inisyng to conlinewe from thence fnrth to hym, both true and obedient.
THE Duke of Bedford, bevng in Normandy, and hearyng of this soclain attempt, lost no
tyine, nor spared no trauaile, till lie came to Paris. Where he, not onely thanked the capi-
taines, and praised the cilezSs for their assured h'delitie and good will, towarde their kyng
and souereigne lorde, but also extolled tlieir hardines, & manly doynges aboiie the Staires,
and high elementes: promisyng to them, honor, fame, and greate aduauncemcntes. Whiche
gentle exbortacion, so incbraged and inflamed the hartes of the Parisians, that they sware,
promised, and cocluded, to be frendes euer to the kyng of Englande and his fi endes, and ene-
mies alwaies to his foes anil adaersaries, ma kyng proclamation by this stile. Frendes to Kyng
Henry, frendes to the Parisians, enemies to England, enemies to Paris. But if they spake
it with their hartes, either for feare, that Charles the Frenche kyng, should not punishe
them, if he once ohteired the suporioritie, ouer their citee, & toune, or that thei flattred
thenglishmen, to put theiii.sclfes in credite with the chief capitaines, you shal plainly perceiue,
by the sequele of their acies.
SQNE after these doyngiis, came to Paris with a greate company, Phillip duke of Eurgoyn,
whicl.e was of the Regent, and the. lady his wife, honorably receiued, and highly feasted.
And after long coiiMiltacion had, for recoueryng of the tounes, lately by the Frenche kyng
stollen and taken, it was agreed, that the duke of Bedford, should rayse an armie, for the
recouery of Unsaid fortresses, and that the duke of Burgoyne, should be his deputie, and
tary at Paris, for the defence of the same. After this greate businesse, thus concluded, and
appoynted, rlie Duke of Bedforde hymself, without any greate resistannce, recouered again
the toune of sainct Denise, and diuerse other Castles. And after that doen, he sent the Bas-
tard of Clarence, to laye siege to the Castle of Toursie, beyng bothe by the naturall situacion,
and mannes pollicie, very strong, and in manor vnahle to be beaten douue. The siege con-
tinued sixe monethes, but in conclusion, the capitain discomfited of al rcleue and succor,
rcndfix-d the fortresse. the life of hyin and his souldiersonlysaucd. Whiche olfre was taken,
& the castle raised, and cast doune to the grounde. During this siege, sir Thomas Kiriell
knight, with foure hundred Englishemen, departed from Gourney in Normandy, and rode by
Bea.ioys spoylyng, robbyng, and wastyng the countrey, to the suburbes of Cleremont.
Wherof. hcaryng the Erie of thesame tonne, assembled all the men of warre, of the garrisons
adioynyng, to fight with thenglishmen : and so the Frenchemen with all diligence set forward, &
found their enemies in a straight place, pere vnto Beauois. The erle oi Cleremount seyng
that he could not hurte theim, with his men of armes, by reason of the straight, cume doune
on fote with all his company, and fiersly set on the Englishmen. The fight was fierse, and
the aduamnage doubtful. But in conclusion, the archers shot so terriblie, that the French-
men, notatile to abide the smart, andgaulesof thearrmves, fled apjce, and the, Englishmen
leuyng the straight, Icpedon horsebacke, and folowed the chase. In the whiche wer taken
twuo hundred prisoners, and thriseas many slain. The Erie, by the suiftnesseof hishorsse,
escaped his enemies, and came to the toune of Beauoys : and so s-ir Thomas Kiriell, with
plentie of spoyle and prisoners, returned to Goruay, renderyng to GOD his hartie thankes,
for tnat good chaunce and happie vittory.
YET Fortune sent not this good lucke alone, for therle of Suffolk at thesame very season,
X 2 besiegyng
156 THE. IX. YERE OF
besiegyng the toune of Aumarle, wherof was capitain the lord Rambures, (after, xxiiii. great
assautes geuen to the fortresse) had the toune and castle to hym symply rendered. Where-
fore, he caused, xxx. of the tounes men, for their untruthe, to be hanged on the walles, and all
jthe rest he raunsomed, and sent the capitain into Englande, where he remained sixe yeres
"continually, £ after by excaunge was deliuered. After this, the erle fortefied the toune, with
jnen, municions and vitaile, and so by a litle and litle, the Englishmen recouered again many
"tounes, whiche before they had loste, without any greate losse of their people. Whiche
thyng, the Frenchernen well consideryng irnagened by what means, how to get again the
toune of Laual, whiche y lorcle Talbot (before as you haue heard) gat, by scalyng in a night.
Wherfore, to possesse their desired prey, tluy with money, and gay promises, first corrupted
a Miller, that kept a Mil adioynyng to the wall, so thafthe Miller, suffered the lorde llo-
met with thre hundred other, to passe, through bis Mill into the toune, in a very durke
night. When they wer entered, they slewe the kepers of the gate, and let in the Lorde Rer-
trand de la Ferrier, with fiue hundred men of armes: whiche either slewe or toke prisoners,
all thenglishemen within the toune. And shortly after, Sir Stephen de Vignoles called the-
Heire, toke by scaly ng, the toune of Lonuiers in Normridy, and did muche damage, to all
the tounes adioynyng.
1 THE NYNTH YERE.
The.;*. WHile these chaunces happened, betwene the Englishmen and Frenchemen, Phillip
duke of Burgoyne, maried the Lady Isabel!, daughter to Ihon, kyng of Portyngall, and
greate aunte to the kyng of Englande. In honor of whiche manage, he instituted and
began an ordre of. xxxvi. knightes without reproche, called the ordre of the golden flece,
and deuised statutes, mantels, collers, and Ceremonies for thesame, muche like to the or-
dinaunces, of the noble ordre of the Garter begonne in Englande, almoste an hundred
yeres before the inuencion, of this fraternitie and frcdship. On the which wife, he begat,
the hardy duke Charles, father to Marie, after maried to Maximilia. kyng of the Romans,
as (when place requireth) shalbe hereafter to you declared.
IN this very season, the Englishemcn in the colde moneth of Decembre, besieged the
toune of Laigny, in the whiche was the Puzel and diuerse other good capitaines. But the
weither was so cold, & the raine so greate and so continual!, that they, of force copelled,
not by their enemies, but by intemperate season, reised their siege: and in their returne,
the Puzell and all the garrison within the toune, issued out and fought with thenglishrnen,
\\here, (after log fightyng) both parties departed without either great gain or losse. After
this enterprise done, the duke of Burgoyne, accompanied with the erles of Arundell and
Suffolke, and the lord Ihon of Luxenbrough, and with a great puissaunce, besieged the
toune of Champeigne : whiche toune was well walled, manned, and vitailed, so that the
besiegers, must either by assaut or long tariyng, wery or famishe them within the toune.
So they cast trenches, and made moynes, "and studied al the waies that they could deuise,
how to compasse their coquest and enterprise. And it happened in the night of the Ass&n-
cion of our lorde, that Pothon of Xentraxles, lone the Puzell, and fine or sixe hundred
men of armes, issued out of Chapeigne, by the gate of the bridge towarde Mowntdedier,
intendyng to set fire in the tentes and lodgynges of the lord of Baudo, which \vas then gone
to Marigny, for the Duke of Burgoyns affaires. At whiche tyme, sir Ihon of Luxenbo-
rough, with eight other gentlemen (whiche had riden ahoute the toune to serche and vieue,
in what place the toune might be most aptly and conueniently assauted or scaled) were
come nere to the lodges of the lorde of Baudo, where they espied the Frenchmen, whiche
began to cut doune tentes, ouerthrowe pauilions, and kil men in their beddes. Wherefore,
shortely they assembled a great nombre of men, as well Englishe as Burgonions, and co-
vagiously set on the Frenchmen. Sore was- the fight and greate was the slaughter, in so
-such
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 157
much that the Frenchemen, not able lenger to indure, fled into the toune so faste, that
one letted the other to entre. In vvhiche chace was taken, lone the Puzell, and diuerse
other : whiche lone was sent to the duke of Bedford to Roan, wher, (after log examinacio)
she was brent to ashes. This wytch or manly woman, (called the maide of GOD) the
Frenchemeu greatly glorified and highly extolled, alledgyng that by her Orleauce was vi-
tailed: by her, kyng Charles was sacred at Reynes, and that by her, the Englishmen wer
often tymes put backe and ouerthrowen. O Lorde, what dispraise is this to the nobilitie
of Fraunce: What blotteis this to the Frenche nacion: What more rebuke can be imputed
to arenoumed region, then to affirme, write & confesse, that all notable victories, and ho-
norable conquestes, which neither the kyng with his power, nor the nobilitie with their va-
liauntnesse, nor the counsaill with their wit, nor the comonaltie with their strenght, could
compasse or obtain, were gotten and acbiued by a shephcrdes daughter, a chamberlein in
an hostrie, and a beggers brat: whiche blindyng the wittes of the French nacion, by reue-
lacions, dreames & phantasticall visions, made the beleue thynges not to be supposed, and
to gfcue faithe to thynges impossible. For surely, if credite may be geuen to the actes of_
the Clergie, openly done, and comonly shewed, this woman was not inspired with the holy
ghost, nor sent from God, (as the Frenchmen beleue) but an enchfileresse, an orgayne
of the deuill, sent from Sathan, to blind the people and bryng them in vnbelife : as by this
ktter, sent fro the kyng of England, to the duke of Burgoyn, to you euidently shall
appere.
" MOSTE dere and welbeloued vncle, the feruentloue and great affection, whiche you
(like a very catholique prince) beare to our Mother holy Churche, and to the aduancement
of our faithe, doth bothe resonably admonishe, and frendly exhort vs, to signifie and write
vnto you, suche thynges, which, to the honor of our Mother holy Churche, strengthen-
yng of our faith, and pluckyng vp by the rotes, of moste pestilent errors, haue been so-
lemply done within our citee of Roan. It is commonly renoumed, and in euery place
published, that the woman, commonly called the Puzell, hath by the space of twoo yercs
and more, contrary to Goddes lawe, and the estate of womanhed, been clothed in a marines
apparell, a thyng in the sight of God abhominable. And in this estate, caried ouer and
conueyed, to the presence of our chief enemy and yours, to whom, & to the prelates,
nobles, & commons of his parte she declared that she was sent from God, presumptuous-
ly makyng her vaunt, that she had communicacion personally, and visibly with sainct Mi-
chaell, and a greate multitude of Angels, and sainctes of heau^n, as sainct Katheryn, and
sainct Margarete : by the whiche falshode and subtilitie, sue made diuerse to beleue, and
trust in her faithe, promisyng to them great and notable victories, by the which meane,
she did turne the hartes of many men and women, from the truthe and veritie, and con-
uerted them to lies and errors. Beside this, she vsurped a cote of annts, and displaid a
standard, whiche thynges, be apperteinyng only to knightes and esquiers: and of a greate
outrage, and more pride and presumpcio, she demaunded to beare the noble and excel-
lent Armes of Fraunce, whiche she in part obteined, the whiche she bare in many skir-
mishes and assautes, and her brethre also (as men report) that is to say: the feld azure, a
swerd, the poynt vpward in pale siluer, set betwene two flower deluces, firmed with a
croune of gold. And in this estate, she cam into the feld, & guided men of war, and
gathred copanies, & assebled hostes to exercise vnnatural cruelties, in sheding of christen
bloud, & stirring sedicions, and commocions emongest the people, inducing them, to per-
iurie, rebellion, supersticio and false error, in disturbyng of peace and quietnes, and re-
newyog of mortal warre. Beside this, causyng herself to be honored and worshipped of
many, as a woman sanctified, and dampnably opcnyng, diuerse imagined cases long to
reherse,. in diuerse places well knowen and apparantly proued. Wherby, almoste al Chris-
tendom is slaundered. But the diuine pui-baunce, hauyng compassion vpon his true peo-
ple, and willyng no lenger to leaue them in peiil, nor suffre the to abyde still in waics
daungerous, and newe cruelties, hath lightly permitted, of his greate mercieand clemency,
thesaied
158 THE. IX. YERE OF
tliesaied-puzell to be taken in your host and siege, whiche you kept for ys before Cham-
peigne, and byyouregood mta;ie, deliuered into o-ir obeysaunce and dominion. And be-
cause we were required, by the bishoppe of tlie Diocese, where she was take, (because
t>he was noted, suspected, and defamed to be a traitor to almightie God) to deliuer to hym
as to her ordinary and Ecclesiasticall lodge: We, for the reuerence of oure Mother holy
Churche, (whose ordinaunces we will preferre, as oure owne dedes and willes, as reason
it is) and also for the aduauncement of Christen faithe, baylcd thesaied lone to hym, to
the intent that he should make processe against her: not willyng any vengeaunce or punish-
mete to be shewed to her, by any officers of our secular iustices, which they might haue •
lawfully and resonable done, cbnsideryng the greate hurtes, damages, and incbueniences,
.the horrible murders, and detestable cruelties, & other innumerable mischiefe-s whiche she
hath committed in our territories, against our people, and obedtet subiectes. '1 he whiche
bishop, takyng.iri company to hym, the Vicar and inquisitor of errors, and hcrisies, and
callyng to them, a great and notable nombre of solempnc doctors, and masters in diuinitie,
and lawe Canon, began by great solempnitie, and granitic, accordyngly, to procede in the
cause of the saied lone. And after that, thesaid bishop and inquisitor, judges in this
"* cause, had at diuers daies ministered, certain interrogatories to the said lone, and had
caused the confessions £ assercions of her, truly to be examined by thesaid doctors and
masters, and in conc!u.cio'generailv, by all the faculties of our dere and weibeloued daugti-
ter the Vniuersity of Paris. Against whom, (the confessions and assercios, maturely and
deliberatly considered) the ludges, Doctors, & all other the parties aforesaied, adiudged
thesame lone, a supersticious sorceresse, and a diabolical blasphemeresse of God, and of
his sainctes: and a persone scismatike and erronious, in- the lawe of lesu Christe. And
for to reduce and bryng her again, to the communion and company, of oure Mother holy
Churche, and to purge, her of her horrible, and pernicious crimes and offences, and to
saue and preserue her soule, from perpetual! payne1 and dampnacibn, she was moste cha-
ritably and fauorably admonished and aduised, to put away and abhor, all her errors and
erromrus doynges, and to returne humbly to the right way, and come to the very vcritie
of a Christen creature, or els to put her soule and body in great perell and ieoperdie. But
all tuis notwithataudyng, the perelous and inflamed spirit ot pride, and of outragious pre-
sumpcio, the whiche continually tnlbrceth hymself, t:> brekc- and d'ssolue the vnitye of
Christen obedience, so clasped in his clawes, the harte of this woman lone, that she, nei-
ther by any ghostly exhortation, holy adinonicion, or any oilier wholsome doctrine, whiche
might to her bee shewed, would molhfie her hard harte, or bryng her to hmiiilitie But
she aduauncec! and auowed, that all thynges by her do: e, wer well done: yea, and done by
the commaundeiuentes of GOD, and the sainctes before rehersed, plainly to herapperyng:
Kefcrryng the. Judgement of her cause, o-.ely to God, and to no indge o"r counsaill, of the
rjimche militant. Wherefore, the ludges I-cclcsi «st:call, perceiuyng her hard harte, so
long to continue, caused her to be brought !unh, in a common auditorie, before the Cler-
gie and people, in a great multitude, there, for that purpose assembled. In which pre-
;.nce wer opened, manifested, & declared, solemnly, openly, and truly, by a master in
tie, ot notable learnyng and vcrtuous life to the aduaunx-ement of the catholike faithe
extirpyng of errors and false opinions, all her confessions and assercions, charitably
jomshyng, and persuadyng her to returne, to the vnion and feloship ofChristcs ( hurche
and to correct and amend, the fames and offences, in the whiche she was so obstinate and
le. And accordy g to the lane, the Indies aioresaied, beganne to procede and pro-
InZ !-id ofcf T St ntenCe> ^ ,that CMe °f ^ht «!'!)«>. eining. Yet, before the
uc ,1 fuUj declared the sentence, she began somewhat to abate her corage, and saied
ha she would teconc,le her self, to our Mother the holy Churche, bothe gladly and wyl-
jyngly. Judges and other Ecclesiasiicall personcs. genteiy receiued he? offer, hopynfl
meane, that bothe her body and soule, wer gotte again out of eternal losse and per"
so, .sue .submitted her self,, to the ordinaunce of the holy Churche, and with
. ^ her
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 159
her m'outhe, openly reuokedj her erroros and detestable crimes: and thesame, abiured
Openly, signyng with her hande, thesaiedabiuracion, and reuocacion. Wherevpon, oure Mo-
ther the holy Churche, beeyng pitit'ull and mercifull, glad and reioysyng of a synner, that
will conuerte, willyng the strayed shepe to returne again to his folde and flocke, coridepned
thesaid lone onely to doo open penaunce. But the fire of her pride, whiche was in her
harte, sodainly brast out into hurtfull flames, blowen out by the belowes of enuie: and in-
continent after, she tooke again, all her errors and false opinions, by her before, adiured
'! and reuoked, for whiche causes, accordyng to the iudgementes and instituciona of holy
church, to the intent that she, hereafter should not defile, any other membre of the flocke,
of our Lorde Jesus Christe: was again exhorted, and preached to openly. And because
she still was obstinate, in her trespaces and villanous offences, she was dcliuered to the
secular power, the which codempncd her to be brent, ami- cosumed her in the fire. And
when she saw that the fatall daie of her obstinacie was come, she opely confessed, that the
spirites, whiche to her often did appere, were euill and false, and apparant Hers, and that
their promes, which they had made, to deliucr her out of captiuitie, was false and vntrue:
affirmyng her self, by those spirites to bee often beguiled, bhnded, and mocked. And so
oeyng in good mynde, she was by the Justices caried to the okle market, within the citee
of Roan, and there by the fire, consumed to asshes, in the si^ht of all the people.
TIMS letter, tbekyng of Englande, sente not onely to the Duke of Burgoyne, and other
Princes, to declare the veritie of the matter, and the administracion of Justice, but to ad-
rnonishe all rude and ignorant persones, in all other countries, to refraine, from the credite
and belefe1 of the saiynges, of suche prophane prophesies, and craf'tie imageners, as this
peuishe painted Puzel was. Yet notwithstandyng, this lawful processe, this due examina-
cion and publike sentence, Iho Buchet, and diuerse Frenche writers aflirme her to be a
saincte in heauen. But because, it is no poynt of our faith, no man is bound to bekue his
Judgement, although he were an Archedeken. But Paulus Emilius, a famous writer, rehers-
yng that the citezens of Orleaunce, had buylded in the honor of her, an Image or an Idole,
saith, y Pius bishop of Rome, and Anthony bishop of Florence, muche mertieiled and
greately wondered at her actes and doynges. With whiche saiyng, I can very well a^ree,
that she was more to be marueiled at, as a false prophetisse, and seducer of the people i
then to be honored or worshipped as a sainct sent from God into the realme of Fraunce.
For of this I am sure, that all auncient writers, aswell deuinc, as prophane, alledge these
three thynges, beside diuerse other, to apparteine to a good woman. First, shamefastnesse, Thre Pr°-
whiche the Romain Ladies so kept, that seldome or neuer thei wer seen openly talkyng with imperuymf
a man: which vertue, at this day emongest theTurke?, is highly esteemed. The seconde, is to a lood-
pitie: whiche in a womans harte, abhorreth the spillyng of the bloud of a poore beast, or a ™
sely birde. The third, is womanly behauor, aduoydyng tlie occasion of euill judgement, and
cause* of slaundre. If these qualities, be of necessitie, incident to a good woman, where
was her shamefastnes, when she daily and nightly, was conueisant with comen souldiors, and.
men of warre, emongest whom, is small honcstie, lesse vertue, and shamefastnesse, least of
all exercised or vsed? Where was her womanly pitie, whe she taking to her, the harte of a
c'ruell beaste, slewe, man, woman, and childe, where she might haue the vpper hand?
Where was her womanly behauor, when she cladde her self in a man ties clothyng, and was
cou'ersant with euery losell, geuyng occasion to all men to Judge, and speake euill of, her,
and her doynges. Then these thynges, bcyng thus plainly true, all men must nedes confesse'
that the cause ceasyng, the effect also ceastth: so y, if these morall venues lackyng, she
was no' good worm, then it must nedes, consequently folowe, that she was no sainct.
^ NOVV leuyng this woman, consumed to asshes, lette vs returrle agayne to the siege of
Com;-eign.-, whiche still continewed. Duryng whiche tyme, the Regent sente to the Duke
of Burgoxne, l:yng at the siege the erle of Huntingdon, i-ir Ihon Robsert. with a thou-
sande Archers, whiche daily skirmished, with theiiri of the toune, and made guche
Bastiles and fortresses, that' the toune must nedes' 'be rendered, or els they within, fa-
]60 THE. X. YERE OF
wished. But se the chaunce, when victory was at had Tidynges wer brought to the
duke of Bur«ovn, that Phillip duke of Brabantc, was departed out of this worlde, leuyng
behvnde hvm, no heire of his'bodie: To whom thesaieci duke pretended to be next heire.
•Wlierforc," he takyng with hym, his best capitaines, for the recouery of so greate a duchy,
departed from the siege, leuyng his poore people behynd hym, and ordemed in his place,
for his leuetcnaunt, sir Ihon'Luxen borough, whiche beyng of small strength and lesse co-
rage, after the dukes departyng, aduised the Englishmen, to depan for that tyme, tyll the
nextsotnmer: whiche therto at the first, would in nowise agree. But there was no remedy.
for he was capitain general!, and had the ordynaunce vnder his rule, so that without that,
thei could nothyngdoo: Wherfore in greate displeasure, they returned into Noirnandy,
After whose departure, the captain set fire in all the hastiles, and secretly departed, leyng
behynde him, diuerse peces of ordynaunce, for lacke of cariage. With which returne, the
dukes of Bedford and. Burgoyn, wer sore displeased : for if he had continued his siege, eight
daies lenger, the toune had been rendered, without dent of swerd. For pestilence and fa-
royne, had almoste consumed all the souldiors, and left the toune, with out safeguard or
defence.
AFTER this siege broken vp, Ihon duke of NorfFolke, toke again the tounes of Dap-
martyn, and the Chasse Mongay, and diuerse other tounes. And therle of Stafford, toke
the toune of Brie, in Countie Robert, and from thence, foraged al the countrey to Sens,
and after toke Quesnoy in Brie, Grand Puys, and Rarnpellon, with many prisoners as sir
laques de Milly, and sir Ihon de la Hay. Duryng whiche tyme the Frenchmen toke Louiers,
& Villuense. And then the toune of Melune rebelled, and had suche ayd<>, of other tounes
adioynyng, that the Englishe souldiors, wer fayne to leaue Melune, Morret and Corbell.
Thus accordyng to the chaunce of war, the one part gat, and the other lost. Thus the En-
glishe affaires (as yon haue hard) within the realme began to wauer, and waxe variable,
whiche caused the Englishe capitaines, to be of diuerse opinions. For one part, beyng sory
and pensiue, adiudged the thynges present, light and of no moment, in comparison of them
whiche they sa\ve likely to folowe: and another sort, adiudged that present time, to be moste
ieoperdus, and moste repleted with perils: Because they sawe, the power of their enemies,
now increa*.«d, and their owne stregth rather dccaied, then coserued. And so euery man
studiyng on 'fliis businesse, aduised secretly with hymself, what counsaill was best to be taken,
and what waie was best to be folowed, to remedy these thynges, thus waueryng, in a doubtful
balance. And then it was concluded, that it was moste apteand mete, for tl>e tyme presente,
that kyng Henry in his royall person, with a newe army, should come doune into Fran nee,
partly to comfort and visite his awne subiectes thcr: partly, either by feare or fauor, (be-
cause a childe, of his age and heautie, dooth commonly allure to hym, the hartes of elder
persones,) to cause the Frenchetnen to continue, in their due obeysaunce towarde hym. Wher-
fore, after a great hoste, conuenient for that purpose, assembled, and money for the mainte-
nance of thewarre, redy gathered, and the realme sette in an ordre, and the Duke of Glou-
cester, appoynted gouernor (winch duryng the kynges absence, appeased diuerse riottes, and
punished many offenders,) the kyng with a great power, tooke shipping at Douer, and
landed at Calice, and there taried a good space; and from thence he remoucd to Roan,
where, with al triumphe, he was receiued, and there soiorned, till the rniddest of August,
his nobles daily consultyng, on their greate busines, and waightie affaires.
U THE TENTH YERE.
> nce
i'enice, to the intent to make his entrie, into the citee of Paris, and there to be sacred kyn*
'ruror l° receiue« the scePtre andCroune of the realme and countrey
'ruror
1 HLKL were in his company, of his owne nacio, his vncle the- Cardinall of Winchester, the
Cardinal] and Archebishoppe of Yorke, the dukes of Bedforde, Yorke, and Norffolke, the
1 -
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 161
Erles of Warwicke, Salisbury, Oxford, Huntyngdon, Ormond, Mortayn, Suffolke, and of Thccorona-
s~< i *-i i f T -i i -m «• > T • i 11 *- /• -ri i i f, cionofkvne
Gascoynes, the Lne of Long'iilc, and Marche, beside many noble men of England, Guyan, Henry the
and Normandy. And the chief of the Frenche nacion, wer- the dukes of Burgoyn, and lvUn l>arij-
Lewes of Luxenbrough Cardinal! and Chauncellor of Fraunce for kyng Henry, the bishops
ofBeauoysand Neyon, bothe peres of France, beside the bishOpp of Paris, and diuerse
other bishoppes, therle of Vaudeniont, & other noble men whose names were very tedious
to you to here rehersed. And he had in a gard, aboute his person, thre thousand strong ar-
chers, some on horsebacke, and parte on fote. And as he was commyng, betwene sainct
Denice and Paris, he was met at the Ciiapell, in the meane waie, by Sir Simon Moruer
prouost of Paris, with agreate company, all clothed in redde Satin, with blewe whoddes,
vvhiche did to hym, due reuerence and lowe obeysaunce. After whom, came diuerse -riche
and notable burgesses, of the toune of Paris, all appareled in Crimosyne clothe. -Alter
they haddoen their reuerence, there approched to the kyng, the. ix. worthiesjsittyng richely
on horsebacke, armed with the armes to them apperteinyng. Next after them, came the knight
of the watch, for the prouost Marchauntes, and with him all the officers of the court, ap-
pareled iu blewe, and hattes redde. And in a long space after, came Master Phillip de
Noruillier, chief president of the Parliament, appareled in a. robe of estate : and all the
other presidentes of the parliament, clothed in robes of scarlet, and in like robes fulowed. the ^
Lordes of the Chamber of accornptes, and of the finaunce, the Masters of the Requestes,
the secretaries, and Regesters, and eucry copany, as their course came, saluted the kyng, with
eloquent oracions, and heroicall verses, and so conueyed hym to the gate of saincte Denice,
where the prouoste, of the Marchauntes, and the Shrefes of the toune, receiued hym with a
Canapie of blewe veluet, richely embraudred, withflower of delices gold, and barethesame ouer
hym, through the toune, whiche on euery side, was hanged with jiche clothes of Arras and
Tapistrie. And at euery porte and bridge where .he passed was set a pageaunt, of greate
shewe and small coste, whiche, because they wer but trifles, I ouer passe, and spekc but of
one deuise, made before the gate of the Chastelet, wherevppn a stage stode, a goodly childe
clothed with habite royall, set full of flower delices, hauyng two Crounes on his hed, repre-
sentyng the yong kyng, and on his right hande, stode twoo noble personages, in the arrne&of
Burgoyne and Flaunders: and on thelefte side of hym, stoode three personages, clothcd:in
the armes, of Bedforde, Salisbury, and Warwicke, whiche to hym delinered, the swerde of
Englande. This pagiaunt was well regarded, and highly praised. From thence he departed
to the palace, and offered in the Ciiapell, and from thence he departed, to the hous of Tour-
nelles, and there toke his repast. And after dinner Isabel, late wife to kyng Charles, his
grandfather, long before disceased. And the next daie he was conueighed, to Boys de
Vyncennes, where, he reposed hymself,till th«. xv. day of Decebre : on which daie, he returned
to the palaice of Paris. And on the. xvij. of thesaied moneth, he departed from the place, in
greate triumphe, honorably accompanied, to our Lady church of Paris: where with al so-
lempnitie, he was anoynted and crouned kyng of Fraunce, by the Cardinal of Winchester:
(the bishop of Paris, not beyng content, that the Cardinal should do suche a high Ceremony,
in his Churche and iurisdiccion.) At the offeryng, he offred breade and wine, as the cus-
tome of France is. When the deuine seruise was finished, and all Ceremonies due, to that
high estate were accoplished, the kyng departed toward the palaice, hauyng one croune on
his hed, and another borne before hym, and one scepter in his hand, & the second borne be-
fore hym. What should I speake, of the honorable seruice, the daintie dishes, the pleasant
conceiptes, the costly wines, the swete Armony, the Musical instrumentes, vvhiche wer :sene
and shewed at that feast, sith all men maie coniecture, that nothyng was omitted, that
might be bought for golde, nor nothyng was forgotten, that by mannes witte could .be
inuented. Yet this high and ioyous feast, was not without a spotte of displeasure, for;tVte
Cardinal! of Wynchester, whiche at this tyme, would haue no man to hym egall, com-
maunded the duke of Bedforde, to leue of the name of Regent, duryng the tyme that the
kyng was in Fraunce: affirmyng the chief ruler beyng in prcEceej the authorise of the sub-
Y stiiute,
162 THE. X. YERE OF
stitute, was clerelj"dferogate : accordyng to the comon saiyng, in the presence of the high
power, the smal authoritie geueth place. The duke of Bedford, toke suche a secret dis-
pleasure with this dooyng, that he neuer after fauored the Cardmall, but repugned and dis-
dained at al thynges that he did or deuised. And so because the Cardinal! would haue no
temporall Lorde, either to hym superior, or with hym egall, he set furth this proude and
arrogant conclusion, thorowe whiche vnhappie deuision, the glory of thenghshemen within
the realme of Fraunce, began first to decaye, and vade awaie in Fraunce.
THE next daie after this solernpne feast, wer kept triumphant lustes and Turneis, in the
whiche, Erie of Arundell, and the Bastard of Sent Polle by the Judgement of the Ladies,
wan the price and gat the honor. When he had kepte open hous to all comers, by the space
of. xx. daies, because the ayre of Paris, was somwhat contrariaunt to his pure complexion,
he was aduised by his counsaill, to returne to Roan. But before his departure, he caused
al the nobilitie, the presidelz of the parliament, the prouostes of the citee and of the Mar-
ctiauntes, and the chief burgesses of the toune and citee, and al the doctors of the vni-
uersitie, to be assembled iu his presence : to whom the duke of Bedford said in this
maner.
IT is not vnknowen to you all my lordes, aswell spirituall as temporall, how this noble re-
gion and famous countrey, of antiquitie called Gaule, and now Fraunce, sith the tyrae of
Charles surnamed the Greate, beyng bothe Emperor of Rome, and kyng of this realme, hath
bee» accompted, reputed, and renoumed, the moste christen region, and famous seigniory,
within the circle of al christendo, yea, and within the whole part of Europe, and not vn-
deseruyngly, for. iij. causes. First, for your sincere faithe and obedient loue, toward your
sauidr and redemer lesu Christ. The second, for obseruyngyour fidelitie & due obeysauce,
to your kynge* and soueraigne Lordes. Thirdly, for kepyng and performing your promises
and agrementes> aswell by woorde as by wrytyng: from the whiche no Pagane, nor honest
Christian will or should disagree. This famous renoume and immaculate honor, so long
coivtiaewyng without reproche or blotte: I thinke, yea, and doubt not, but you will to the
death, kepe, defend, and obserue, as your noble parentes and auncient progenitors, before
you (to their ineffable praise) haue vsed and accustomed. Wherfore, sith it is not vnknowen
to all you, that the noble and vertuous prince, kyng Henry the fifth, my moste derest and
welbeloued brother, was the very true inheritor, and the vndoubtfull successor to the croune
of this realme of Fraiice, as cosin and heire to Lady Isahell, daughter and sole inheritrice, to
kyng Phillippe the Faire. For the recouery of whiche right and title, what pain he tooke,
and what charge he was at, 1 well knowe, and some of you haue felte, as a greate scourge
to your nacion, onely prouided by God, to afflicte and punishe them: whiche will withhold
& vsurpe, other mennes rightes, possessions, and inheritaunce. But God oure sauior and
redemer, (whiche wil not suffre his people, intendyng to conuert, to be dampned for euer,
but gently calleth them to mercy and saluacion) of his greate good nes & gentlenes, willed the
holy ghost to shed and poure into the hart of the noble prince, kyng Charles, your late wel-
beloued and most drad souereigne lord, the knowledge of the lawfull line, and of the true
pathe of the inheritaunce, of the croune & scepter of this realme. Which vertuous man,
hauyng neither an harte hardened in his awne opinion, nor a mynd ambicious of Empire
(as many tyrauntes, and couetouse princes, before this daie haue had, vsed, and accustomed)
for aduoydyng farther effusion of christen bloud, and for the saluacion of his soule, without
battaill, or stroke of weapon, was content (vpon an honorable coposicion) to restore the
awful mheritauee to the true heire and to rendre his title to the right lignage, & vndoubted -
Jyne. v hiche treatie and finall composicion, was nether wantonly ouerlooked, nor vn-
&18teheynZSene; *°r al <hf. «ob'« P«es, of this realme, bothe spiritual & tempoWll, yea,
Most part of thenobihtie, (except a certain wilde and wilfull persones) with the whole
'hie (in who the very base and burden of the realme doth consist) not onely by
by auncient writyng signed with their handes, and strengthened wkh the scales-
mes, here redy to be shewed, baue frankly and frely with out scruple or contra-
diccion
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. IC3
diction, agreed, and affirmed thesame. By whiche composicion, (as the mirror and plain
shewe and token of kyng Henries right) he was by the three estates, assigned, and allowed,
as heire apparant to thesaid kyng Charles, lately deceassed. But cruell death seperatyng
his body from his soule, long before the expectacion of his people, suffered him not to
possede and enioye the title and regalitie of this his due inheritaunce, and succession royall.
Yet, God willyng not the stocke, of so noble, so famous, and so vertuous a prince, to re-
mayne bareyn without buclde or flower, hath sent to hym, and fro hym to you a florishing
child, a goodly prince of bothe the noble houses, of England & Fraunce indifferently dis-
cended: as who would saie, that by nature, he is neither perfect Englishe, nor perfect
Frenche, but a man indifferent, called an Englishe Frencheman, and a Frencha Englishman.
Whiche noble prince, and your soueraigne Lorde, you may with glad hartes, and louyng
countenaunces, se, heare, and behold. And as for his honorable behauor, & princely ma-
iestie: fewe princes of full & ripe age, be to hym comparable, or equipollent. As for his
beautie and other giftes of nature, scace Absalon can He to hym assembled. But hauyng res-
pect to the vertuous disposition the Godly mynd, and sincere conscience, of so noble a child
and princely infant, I surely thinke, and perfectly beleue, that he is aboue all other, the bla-
syng Starre, and the vnmatched Paragon. This precious stone and noble luell, is not onely
come out of his naturall conntrey, and norishyng Region, to receiue the Croune and pos-
session, of this his realme and dominion, but also, (fike a good shepherde) to vieue, se,
and knowe you, as his welbelor.ed flocke, and moste desired subiectes: and you likewise,. (as
louyng and obediet vassals) to behold, and knowe your soueraigne lord and prince, to the
intent, that as you, aboue all other nacions, aswel christen as Ethenicke, haue serued, loued,
and obeyed, your rulers and Kynges, before these daies: so he now doubteth not but to find
you as louyng to hym, as the Turtle to her make, as sure to hym as the Adamant to the stele,
and as permanent in his obedience, as the hard mountayne of Olympe, which, neither craft
nor engyne can either consume, or remoue. And all mistrust of your ingratitude, is clerely
banished from his harte : consideryng, that he knoweth, that you daily heare it preched, that
you should feare God, and honor your kyng, and that he, which is in stubburnesse and ob-
stinacie toward his prince, is disobedient towarde God. For the Prince in yearth, is the \
Vicar of GOD, and hedde and shepherde of Christes flocke: to who bothe spiritual! persones \
and temporal, be subiectes, and inferiors in al causes of rule & gouernaunce. And although ^
some persones within this realme, seduced more by phantastical error, then obstinate arro-
gancy, haue take part, and entered into amitie with Charles de Valoys, vntruly callyng him-
self the French kyng: yet the verie true and vndoubtful prince, and our souereigne Lorde,
here bcyng present, is resolned and content, to remit and pardon their offences and crimes,
so that they within twelfe daies, returne to the true folde, and forsake the infected flocke, and
sedious company. Wherefore, his request is at this tyme, that you, for the fidelitie, whiche
you haue euer borne to hym, and for the loue, that he hath, and styll intendeth to beare to
you, will vouchesafe hereafter without letlyng of tyuie diligetly study and busely take pain,
bothe to kepe his louyng subiectes in good oidre, and due obeysaunce towarde hym, and
also tose theim liue in mutuall amitie and brwtherly concord, betwene theim selfes: not for-
gettyng, that the olde proueibe, whiche saieth: inward discord, bryngeth realmes to ruyne.
Which honorable requestes, if you accoplishe and performe, (as of your very bounden duety,
you bel)ound in deede) you shall deserue so umche fauor, of your kyng and soueraigne
Lorde, that to all your honest requestes, his eares shalbe open, & to al your reasonable de-
sires, his mouth shall not be stopped. And thus he wisshethyou, health in bodies, increace
in your substau nee, and to your soules, ioye and felicitie without ende perpetually.
WHEN the duke had finished and ended this his oracion, the people beyng glad and re-
ioysyng at his saiynges, cried: Hue kyng Henry, liue Kyng Henry. After which crie passed,
the noble men, aswell of Fraunce and Normandy, did to hym homage, find the common
people, sware to hym feaultie: to whom, (although he were a child) he gaue botb ple^saunt
Y 2 and
THE. X. YERE OF
ami faire wordes, withjiartie thankes, and many gratificacions, to the great admiracion of
the Frenche people.
AFTER he had feasted, the nobles and commons of Fraunce within the citee of Paris, he
with a great company, departed from thence, and by small iorneis came to Roan, where
he celebrated with great solempnitie, the high feast of Christmas. While these -noble Cere-
monies wer thus in doyng, in the citee of Paris, sondery chauces, diuersely hapned in se-
ueral places, to the displeasure of the one part, and to the gain of the other. For sir Frances
Surrien Arragnoys, a noble capitain in Normandy, toke by force and pollicie, the touneof
MoMntarges, with a greate prey of treasure and prisoners, and therein he put a garrison*
and vitailed the toune, to the greate displeasure of the Frenche Kyng. Aboute thesame
season, the Erie of Arundell, beyng truly informed, that the lorde Bousac, Marshall of
Fraunce, was come to Beauoys, intending to do some feate in Normady, assembled the
noinbre of thre and twentie hundred men, and laied hymself priuelie, in a close place, nor
farre from thesaied toune, and scni a ^reat nombre of light horssemen, to ronne to the bar-
riers of the citee. The Frenchmen like valiaiit men of warre, issued out, and manfully
fought with the Englishemen: whichesodainly fled, towarde the stale. The Frenchmen, co-
ragiously folowed thinkyng the game gotten on their side: but when they wer entered into the
straight, therle set freshly on them, so that after long fightyng, there wer slain and taken, iu
maner al the Frenchmen, saue a few, whiche fled into the toune, with the Marshall. Emo^est
the capitaines was found prisoner, the ,vali'iunt capitain, called Poynton of Sanctrayles,
(which without delay,) was exchaunged for die lorde Talbot, before taken prisoner, at the
battaill of Patay. There was also taken one, called the shepherd, a simple ma, and a scly
soule, whom, the Frenchmen reputed, to be of suche a holinesse, that if he touched the
walle of a toune of their enemies, that incontinent, it would fall to the grounde, and
ouerturne. Suche false phantastical fainers, were at that tyme much regarded, and no lesse
beleued in Fraunce.
THISchauncesucceded not, fortunatly alone: for Richard Beauchampe Erie of War-
wicke had agreate skirmishe, before the toune of Gourney, where he discotited and repulsed
his enemies, and beside thecarions, whiche wer leftdedde on the ground, he tooke prisoners
thre score horssemen, all gentlemen of name and arrnes. Like chaunce of infortune hap-
pened at thesame tyme, to Renate or Reyne duke of Barr, a greate frend to Charles the
French kyqg, bothe in lendyng hym money, and also in ministeryng to hyru aide and succors.~
This duke bearyng displeasure, to Anthony Erie of Vaudemont, his cosyn and kynsman]
gathered together a greate armie, and besieged the toune of Vaudemont. Therle, before
the dukes approchyno, to thentent y he would not be enclosed and compassed about by his
enemies within a wall, leauyng behynde hym a conuenient crue of men of warre, to defende
.it, ouutuy gumm uyin, nauyng in ins company sixe hundred Ar-
chers, and the duke of Burgoyne sent to hym, his Marshall, called sir Anthony Douloneon
with. xv. hundred men. The erle of Vaudemont thus beyng accompanied, marched toward
Duke Reme, hearyng of his commyng towarde hym, was somewhat dismayed
iearyng, least if hisenemiesshould approehe to the walles, and be espied by the garrison within
lie toune,. 'hat, at one tyme he should be assailed before, by them that would issue out of
oune, and I clund by therle and his armie. Wherfore, like a hardy capitain, he brake vp
d ^6> I !, met 'ace '° 'ace> w'tn therle and his company i betwene whom, was a cruel!"
s » MluS VhP \% horsemen indured long, but in conclusion, the Englishe Archers,
elfedt fit har ? W°Unded ,the mei1' that the Bwroysand theil> ^endes, wer co-
rn .whiche chace was taken, thesaied duke of Barr, the bishop of Myes the
T^ i « ' •• ~ — — * * "™ ^ **j v i »•»*** t-*iij^/« HO 16536 UL. v_.(is tun
Englishmen, beyng in'another parte, if when the pigge had been
profered
KYNG HENRY THE; VI. 185
profered, thei had opened the poke: for Robert, Lorde Willoughby, and Mathew Gotigh
a valiaunt Welsheman, with. xv. hundred Englishemen laied siege to a toune in Aniow, beyng
bothe by situacion, and pollicie, verie strong and defensible, called sainct Seueryne. The
Englishmen assailed it not so couragionsly, but they within, with egall audacitie, boldely made
defence: so that fortune semed, to waie bothe the parties in egall balance. Charles the
French kyng, beyng thereof aduertised, sent with all spede, the lorde Ambrose de Lore, with
many noble and valiaut personages, to aide and releue his frendes, inclosed in the toune by
his enemies. This lorde de Lore, beyng capitain of the toune, made muche haste to comfort
his deputie and capitain within thesame, and so marched forward with greale spied: but fear-
yng to besodainly compassed aboute he taried still at Beaumont, lokyng for the armie and
capitaines, that should folow, and then altogether to set on their enemies, and so to reyse
the siege. Whiles he there made his abode, and toke his leysure, the Englishmen, by their
espialles, were assertened and aduertised, what progresse their enemies made, and what they
intended. Wherfore, they pollitiquely prouided, to fight with the one parte, before the
whole puyssaunce wer ioyned. And so a greate parte of them, departed secretly in the night,
toward their enemies, and found the watch so out of ordre, and ouersene, that a thousande
men wer entered into the camp before thei were espied. But the slaiyng of men. and cuttyng
doune of tentes, awaked the capitaines, whom this sodaine feare, and vnlooked chaunce so
greately abashed, that no man in tnaner, either could heare his felow or hymself, or could
make signe to expulse and driue out their enemies out of their campe. But when the day be-
ganne to appere, and the son«e had setfurth his bright beames, that all.thyng might be sene
and perceiued, the Englishemen, geuen to couetuousnes of spoyle and desire of Rauyne,
neither chaced, norfolowed their enemies, but beyng content with their prey and gayne, began
to retraite toward the siege again. But se the chaunce: the Frenchmen which wer com-
niyng after, heard by the noyce of the people, that some fraie was then in hand, put the
spurres to the horse, and set on their enemies, beyng laded with bagges and wallcttes, of
preys and spoiles. The other part, whiche before fled, returned again, and assailed their
enemies. The Frenchmen egerly assailed, and the Englisheinen manfully defended, whiche
beyng out of ordVe, wer compelled to flie, of whom, Matthew Gough and diuerse other wer
taken prisoners, and yet of the other parte, many were slain, and a great nombre taken,
emongest whom, was the lord of Lore, which, for all the battaile, was kept and not de-
liuered.
•THE lord Willoughby, hearyng of this cliaunce reysed the siege & departed verie sore
displeased. Therefore- let euery capitain take good hedc of victorie, the whiche as she is harde
to obtain, so she is quicke to rlie awaie: for it is daily sene, that he, whiche thynketh suerly,
thathe hath her in his handes, before he can catche her, isdeceiued, £ ronnelh into a great
losse and danger: and on the otherside, when she is gotten, (except good watche behourcly
kept) she will steale awaie, with muche hurte and detriment, to the first gainer. Thus the
Englishmen, for the gredy appetite of gain, lost the triumphaunt victorie, whiche they had in
their handes. While the Englishe and Frenche nacions, thus strouc and contended, for
preeminence, principalitie, yea, & for the superior power of life, by the vnreasonable rage
of warrein Fraunce, the rich men were spoyled of their goodes, the spiritual! persones, were
taxed and brought low, the comon people wer slain, murdred, and trode vnder the foote,
women wer defiled, virgynes wer ranished, tounes wer destroied and wasted, toune duellers
and citezens, wer robbed and exiled, beautiful buyldynges, wer cruelly brent, "nothing was
spared, by the crueltie of Mars: whiche by fire, hloud, or famyne, might be catched or de-
stroied, beside a hiidred more calamities, that daily vexed and troubled the miserable French
nacion. Although France, wer at this tyme, thus miserably aflicted: yet Englande, was
not without doloure and trouble: for daily Englishmen, asvvel noble as meane personages,
wer, slain taken, \vounded, or hurte, their substance was cdtinually exacted, and cosumed
for maintenaunce of ihe warres, so that mischief and calamitie, was indifferent to bothe the t
nacions, and qujetnes and gayne, were expulsed £ banished from ihean both : in so muehe
'..v'-i.^ that:
THE. X. YERE OF
to scourge, pidguc --M,,! u.-ai-1-p to a frendlv neace. sent his
cord and ^uadyng vn tie, shewyng, declaryng and arguyng, peace to be moste honorable
and 'mo e Fofitab e to Christian princes, then mortall warre, or vnchantab e d.scencion.
^dmran of Christes people, ought to baue an iye, to the profile of their people to
« lusuce duly ministered, to rule theseifes by reason and not by w,l and to abstain fro
malice, and abhorre all wrong and iniury, to whiche thynges, warre is cuer eiiemie & cleane
'°WHFN the Le^te had thus persuaded the princes on euery part, bothe gently aun-
swered 'that they wer content to come to a reasonable ende. But when the first commum-
cacionwasmoued, and by comissioners treated, their dooynges were so farre disagreeable,
from their vvordes, that not onely reasonable and honest eondiciens of peace, could be nei-
ther heard nor accepted, but more frowardnes, pertinacie, & malice was kmdeled and
BPron<T in their stumackes, then before that time had been sene. The Cardinal beyng in.
vtter dispaire, of cocludyng a peace betwene the two realmes, (least he should seme to de-
pal te empty of all thynges, for the whiclie he had taken so muche trauaill) desired a truce
for sixe yeres to come, which request, as it was to him, by bothe parlies hardly graunted, so
was it of the Frenchmen, sone and lightly broken, after his returne : For the Bastarde of
Orleaunce, newly made Erie of Dumoys, tooke by treason the toune of Charters, from the
Englishemen: affirmyng by the lawe of armes, that stealyng or biyng a toune without in-
uasio, or assaute, was no breach of league, amitie, nor truce. In the whiche toune, he slews
the bishop, because he was a JJurgonyo, through which occasion, newe malice increased
and mortal warre began again to rise and spryng.
WH I LE these thynges wer doyng in Fraunce, Henry Beaufforde Cardinal] of Winchester,
•was sailed again into Englande, to appeace and represse certain diuisions and commocions,
sprang vp, by mischeuous and pernicious persones, within the realme, whiche vnder the
colour of a newe sect of religion, coniured together, to disquiet £ vexe, the whole quietnes
of the realme. But after that Willia Maundeuile and I ho Sharpe wer taken, and executed
by the gouernor and the kynges Justices, the remnaunt yelded, and cofcssed their offences:
wherof two articles wer these, as some men write: that priestes should haue no possessions,
and that all thynges, by the ordre of Charitie, emongest Cliristen people, should be incommon.
After this sedicious coniuracion, by diligent enquirie, was thus queened out, the Cardinall
began to commen with the duke of Gloucester, concernyng the affaires and husines of
Fraunce: and suspecting that the truce would not long continue betwene t)othe j? realmes,
(as it did not in dede) diuised, how to send more aide, and men to the Duke of Bedforde,
and gathered vp more money, and treasure, for the further maintenance of the warres, and
resistence of their enemies. "VVherupon the Duke of Gloucester, called a Parliament, in
the whiche, money was assigned, and men wer appointed. Duryng whiche Parliament,
lames the kyng of Scottes, sent Ambassadors, to conclude a peace, with the duke of Glou-
cester, which, (because the kyng was abscnte) referred the matter to the. iij. estates. After
long consultacion, (not without greatc argumentes) a peace was graunted and concluded,
which all men iudged, long to continue, because kyng lames, was then vexed with ciuil
warre and intestine discencion, and also the Frencheuaeu had taken truce, (as you haue hard)
for. vi. \eres.
WHEN the parliament was finished, the Cardinall well garnished with men and money,
departed
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 167
departed out of Englande, and came to Roan to the kyng, to whom also resorted from Paris,
Ihon, Duke of Bedford, to debate and consult of thynges,- not vnlikelyto happen and chaunce.
Wherfore, a greate counsail was celebrate, within the Castle of Roan, and many doubt*
wer moued, and fevve waighty thynges out of hand concluded. Some imagined, that their
enemies, would not longkepe promise, nor yet obserue the truce, by them solemply graunt-
ed: consideryng, that the Frenche hartes brente, and their iyes were very sore, lose the
riche Duchie of Normandy, the faire citee of Paris and thepleasaunt Isle of Fraunce, to be
brought and reduced, vnder the obeysauce and subieccion, of thenglish nacion. Wherfore,
thei would not omit, or ouerse one thyng, that souded to defence, least the Frenchmen so-
dainly, (not keping their promes, & brekyng the truce,) might cause thenglishmen to be in
greate & perilous ieoperdy, not knowyng what coiisaill to take, nor sodainly to prouide a
remedy for a mischief*, bothe for lacke of men and substaunce. Oiher wer of opi-
nion, that nombres of men, could not long be maintained and kepte together, without
breache of truce, and violatyngof peace: knowyng that the handes of men, be properly geueu
to spoyle, and euer redy to gain, and moste especially, when they be daily redy in harneis,
prone and quicke to set on their enemies. And therfore, thei would the walled tounes, to
bewel manned and defected, and the rest of the army, to be sent into England, again,,
there to remain and tary til the tyme of the truce wer expired and ouer passed.
AFTER this disputacion, with many argumetes ended, the dukes of Bedford and Yorke,
and Edmond late erle of Mortayn, and now by the death of Ihon duke of Somerset, (which
died without heire male, leauyng behind hym, a sole doughter called Margaret, after, coun-
tesse of Richemod) erected to the name and title, of duke of Somerset, liked and approued,
the first argument, & first moued reason: affirmyng best that warre must be prouided for,
and that money out to be disbmssed, and to aduoyde all doubles, that a greater army, was
necessary to be gathered together and assembled. When al thynges wer agreed, kyng Henry
departed to Calice, and from thence to Douer, and so by easye iorneis he came the. xxi. daie
of February, to the citee of London, where he was receiued, not onely with greate pompe
and triumphe, but also highly presented with giftes and money, as in the Chronicle of Robert
Fabian, you maie rede at large, whiche thyng I ouer passe.
AFTER that the kyng, was departed into Englande, the Duke of Bedford, Regent of '
Fraunce, and capitain of Calice, taried behynde in the marches of Picardy: where he was
informed, that certain souldiors of Calice, grudgyng al the restrainl of wolles, beganne to
mutter and murmure against the kyng and his counsaill, so that the toune of Calice, was like
to stand in ieoperdy. Wherfore the duke, forseyng the mischief that might insue, & thinkyng
it wisedom, to withstand the first mocion, caused the chieftaynes of this faccion, to be ap-
prehended, and after due examinacion had, diuerse were put to death, and many banished
& exiled the Marches for euer. After that he had purged the tonne of that vngracious and
sedicious company, and had furnished it, with new souldiors & discrete men of war, he was
determined, first to repaire again to Paris, but his liarte would not serue hym for sith his de-
parture, Lady Anne his wife and Duchies, was departed to God, and honorably enterred in
the Celestyns at Paris: by whose death, and for other causes, (as partelyyou haue hard) the
sureloue, and approued fidelitie, betwene the duke of Burgoyn, his brother in lawe and hym,
began to waxe fainte and colde. For whiche cause, he beyng persuaded by the lorde Lewes
of Luxenborough, bishoppe of Tyrwyne and Ely, and ChaunceHor of Fraunce for kyng
Henry, agreed to marye the Lady laquet, doughter to Peter Erie of sainct Paule, and niece
tothesaied bishop, and to lorde Ihon of Luxenborough: to the intent, that by this newe af-
finitie, the olde acqua'mtaunce and familiaritie, whiche he had wirh that noble familie of
Luxeborough, should be reaeued and inforced, and with a more surer knot, knit and con-
firmed. Wheruppn he departed from Calice to Tirwyne, where, he was highly receiued of
the Erie ofsainct Paule, and of his brethren, and there hemaried, the faire and freashelady
laquet, of the age of. xvii. yeres, with all triumphe and nupciall solempnitie. After whiche
Ceremony ended, he returned with his newe spouse to Calice, and so into Englande, where,
1 he.
The. xi.
yere.
,6j THE. XL YERE OF
he with hi3 wife remained, vntil August next, and then returned again to Paris. The Duke of
lLaovnc, ( vLose mvnde began to incline, a litle and litle toward kyng Charles) was sore
u S and an.ry, that the duke of Bedforde, was ioyned in affinitie, with the noble and
famou housofLuxeborough: by the whiche he savve, that the power o the Englishmen,
should be greatly aduaunced. But the manage was fully ended, and he could hnde no
remedy.
IT THE ELEUENTH YERE.
\VHile these thymes weredoyng thus, in other places the French souldiors lackyng wages,
faad emSaest tbeim, a greate nombre, whiche in hope of prey, and desire ofspoile, had
cast vp the plough, and left their labor,) began priuely, (as tyme serued, and occasion gaue
place) to take bothe Englishmen and Burgonyons, and raunsomed and spoyled thenu, at
their pleasures. And although they were prohibited thus to do, (duryng the tyme of truce &
peace) yet inconclusion, they spared not openly to robbe, spoyle, and burne: yea, & to
steale tounes, whiche they affirmed to be no breache of truce. The Englishmen, pricked and
vexed, with these open wronges, and manifest iniuries, prepared for warre, after the sixe
monetb, that the truce was taken and concluded. And by this meanes, the war was rencued
and bcgonne again. The vntrue Frenchemen, breakers of peace, and not kepers of truce,
rcysedacreweofmen, and sodainly tooke the toune of sainct_Valerie, standyng in Nor-
mandy, on the Riuer of Soame: and another army, vnder the coduict of sir Ambrose, lorde
of Lore, wasted and destroyed all the countrey aboute Caen. The Duke of .Bedford, not
niyndyng to lie still in ydlenesse, sent the Erie of Arundell, the Erie of Warwickes sonne the
Lorde Lisle, Adane Marshall of Fraunce, for kyng Henry, and. xii. C. men, with ordinaunce
and municions, to besiege the toune of Laigny, vpon the Riuer of Marne. Whiche Erie,
with the shot of a Canon, brake the archeof the bridge, and gat from ths Frenchmen, their
bulwarke, and set it on fire. Diuerse assautes were attempted, but the toune was
well defended: for within, wer shut vp, eight hudred men of armes beside other meane
souldiors.
THE duke of Bedford, beyng therof aduertisecl, gathered an armie of sixe thousande
men of warre, wherof wer capitaines, Robert, Lorde Willoughby, sir Andrewe Ogard,
Chambcrlein to the duke, sir I lion Saluaine, Baylife of Roan, sir Ihon Montgomerie,
Bailife of Caux, sir Phillip Halle, Baylife of Vernoyle, sir Richard Ratclife, deputie of
Calice, sir Raufe Neuell, sir Raufe Standishe, sir Ihon Hanforde, sir Richard Euthin,
sir Richard Harryngton, Bailife of Eureux, sir William Fulthorpe, sir Thomas Griffyne
of Irelande, Dauy Halle, Thomas Stranguish, Leonard Ornesto, Esquiers, and Thomas
Gerard, whiche solde the toune of Mounstrean Faultyon, to the Frenchemen : and with
all thyngcs necessarye, came to the siege before Laigny. He, there, made a bridge of
boates, and brought his ordinaunce so nere the tonne, that to all people, it seined not Ion »
able to resist. But the Erie of Dumoys Bastard of Orleaunce, with diuerse hardy capi-
taines, as valiauntly repulsed, as the Englishemen assautcd. This siege contyneued. as fire
against flame, and sometyme ilame against fire. For although the Englishemen slewe more
uombre, yet they gat neither prey, nor boty: and although the Frenchemen, kepte va-
leauntly the walles, and defended the loupes/ yet they loste bothe men and capitaines, and
wer long secluded from their aide and succors, til Charles the French kyng, perceiuyng
this toune, to be the thre corner key, betwene the territories of the Englishemen, the Bur-
gonyons, and his awne, and that the losse therof, should turne hym to innumerable da-
mages and incredible hurtes, sent the lorde of Rieux, Poyton, the Heire, the-lorde Gan-
cort, and sixe thousand men, with great plentie of vitailes, to thentent, either to reise the
sjegc, or to vitaile the toune. The French -capitaines, made a bragge, as though thei
•Wild fight with thenglishemen, within • their felde and'Campe. The ^Englishmen would
not
KYNG HENRY THE. Vl. 169
not issue out, but kept themselfes in good ordre, euer lokyng for, their entrie and inuasio.
The Regent perceiuyng, that thei approched not, sente to theim an herault of Armes, de-
claryng his intent, and the corage of his company, whiche nothyng more desired, then
battaill. And to sliewe hymself as a capitain, rneanyng that, which he offred, & not dis-
simulyng that, whiche he spake: he incontinent, diuided his men into three battailes, no
more wisely ordered, the pollitiquely gouerned : as who would sale, come on Frencheman,
if thy harte will serue. But his aduersarie§, more craft ie then hardy, more pollitique then
coragious, framed themselfes in suche ordre of battaile, as thei wer able to do all thyng,
and yet inconclusion, (concernyng marciall feat<?s) thei did nothyng. For, while thei
made a proudc bragge, and a stoute skirmishe with the Englishemen, thei appoynted di-
nerse rude and rustical! persones, to conucye into the toune, xxx. oxe and other small vi-
taill, but this swete gain, wassowerly paied for, if the losse with the gain, be pondered in
one balaunce: for hauyng regard to. xxx. leane oxen, in the conflict were slain, the lorde
Sentrayles, brother to Pothon, the valeaunt capitain Ihon, brother to the lord Gawcort,
and fiftie other noble and valeaunt personages, beside other common people, whiche bought
that bargayne, aboue the price of the common Markeite. The Frenchemeri, perceiuyng
, their intbrtunate chaunce, and not only consyderyng, the vnspekeable heate, whiche then
weried their people, beyng in the beginnyng, of the hole moneth of August: but also,
perceiuyng the Englishmen, to be planted and settled, in a place vnable to be wonne, and
in a grounde, bothe dangerous to inuade, and hard to assaile, like men desperate of gain,
and without hope of victory, departed to Fort vnder Yerre, where, by a bridge of tunnes,
they passed into the Isle of Fraunce. The Duke of Bedforde, (like a wise prince) not
myndyng to lease the more for the lesse, 'nor the accident for the substaunce, fearyng that
Paris and other tounes, more necessary to thenglishemen, and of more estimacion, would
•returne to his aduersaries, thynkyng if the greater power were holden, the lesse should be
sone obtained, reysed his siege, and returned to Paris, nothyng lesse myndyng, then to
trie his querell with dent of sweard, against his enemies: and so sent Bedford his herault,
to the lorde Gawcort, and other chieftaines of his army, offerynghym battail, and a pitch-
ed feld, within a conuenient grounde, where so euer he would, within the Isle of Fraunce,
assigne or appoynt. To the whiche officer of Armes, the capitaines aunswered, that bat-
taill they feared not, nor the Englishe puyssaunce, thei not muche regarded, but thei
saied: that tyme was to gain, and tyme was lo lose, of the whiche twoo, thei doubted not
to espie the one, either to their greate gain, or to their apparaunt losse. Wherupon thei
sent the lorde Ambrose de Loyre, with. vii. C. horsemen, to robbe and spoyle the poore
people, commyng to the faier, on the day of sainct Michaell the Archangel!, kepte in the
suburbes of the toune of Caen. But whe Dauy Halle Esquier, capitain of the touhe, for
the duke of Yorke, issued out to fight with liym, he departed by flight, without any either
botie or gain of the faier. The Frenchmen perceiuyng, that neither power, force, nor
pollicie, could auaile against the Englishe nacion, determined to trippe and deceiue them
by their accustomed seruaunt, called master Treason, and so by money, corrupted Piers
Audebeuffe, Constable of the castle of Roan, that the Marshall of Fraunce, and the lord
Fountaynes, with twoo hundred persones disguised, entered into the Castle, but thei wer
sone espied, and driuen to the dongeon, where thei wer taken and yeldcd: wherof some
wer hanged, some bedded, and some raunsomed at the pleasure of the Regent: and suche
ende had the tray tors, whiche would by treason, rather then by buttaill, obtained their prey
and desired purpose,
THIS pageaunt plaied, the Regent sent Peter of Luxenborough Erie of sainct Paule,
and Robert, lorde Willoughby, with a competet crue of men, to besige the toune of Sainct
Valerie, whiche the Frenchemen alitle before had taken. These valeaunt capitaines, not
myndyng to slepe their busines, enuironed the toune with a strong siege. Within the toune
•wer sir Lewes de Vancort, sir Phillippe de la Toure, and sir Reignold de Verseilles ca-
pitaines, with three hundred good fightyng men, which by the space of iii. wekes, manfully
2 defended
170 THE. XII. YERE OF
defended the same. But at the. xxi. daie they perceiuyng the fiersenes of tbenglishemen
and the weakens of themselfes, (hauyng no hope of relief nor confidence m any aide)
rendered the toune, their horsse and harneis onely saued. The trie put, in the garrison
of the tonne, freashe and valeaunt souldiors, and appoynted capitam there, sir Ihon Aw-
bemond: in vvhiche toune sodainly, (whether it wer by infeccio 01 the ayre, or by corrupt
vitail by Ion* liyne, whiche the tonnes men did eate.) a great pestilence sprang, in the in-
fortunate cofitrey. Whiche, after so many calamities and euill chaunces, beyng twoo tymes
besieged by the Frenchemen, and thryse recouered by thenglishe nacion, was now infected
and corrupted, with the pestilent plague: whereby twoo partes ol the people, within snorte
space, wer destroyed and consumed.
AFTER this toune tjotteh, the Erie of sainct Panic, and the Lorde Willoughby, return-
ed to the Repent, where, they wer well welcomed. And after, thesaid Erie departed from
Paris, to hue siege to the Castle of Monchas, but beyng encamped, nere to the toune of
Biaim- he, by a sodain maladie, finished his daies, and departed the worlde, leauyng his
seigniories, to Lewes his sonne and heire. For whiche dedde Erie, wer solempne obse-
quies kepte, bothe in Paris and in London, because he was father in lawe to the Regent.
In the meane season, the Frenchmen entered into the costes of high Burgoyne, and brent,
toke, and destroyed tonnes : for whiche cause, the Burgonyons beyng sore displeased, as-
sembled a greate army, bothe to reuenge their querels, and also to recouer again the tounes,
from theim iniustely taken: to whom, (as to his frendcs) the duke of Bedforde, sent Ro-
bert Lorde Willoughby, and sir Thomas Kiriel, with a comienient company of souldiors,
whiche enteryng into the laundes of Laonoys, wer encoutred with a great nobrc of their
enemies: but by whose force, (after long fight) the Frenchmen wer slain and dispersed:
wherof wer left dedde in the feld, an hundred and sixtie horsemen, beside prisoners, whiche
after in. a fury, wer all killed and put to destruction.
f THE. XII. YERE.
Tj«r' WHile these chaunces thus happened in Fraunce, Iho lord Talbot, gathered together,
a crue of chosen men of war in England, to the nombre of viii. C. & sailed into Norman-
dy, and passed by Roan toward Paris, and in his way, he toke the strong Castle of loing,
betwene Beauoys and Gisors, and caused all the Frenchmen within to be hanged on the
walles, and after, raised and defaced the Castle, and came to the Duke of Bedford, to
Paris. The presence of which renoumed capitam, (a maruelous thyng it is to se) so incora-
ged the hartes of the English nacion, that thei thought, nothyng able to resist their puys-
saunce, and so discoraged the hartes of the Frenchemen, that thei wer in doubt, whether
it wer better to fight, or to flic. And this was not without a cause : for surely, he was a
chosen capital n, & in marcial feates, a man fully instructed, and his corage and practise in
warre, was fearfull to the Frenche nacion, and to his awne coutremen, an especial hope
and a sure defence. When this hardy Baron, had commonecl with the Regent, and agreed
i «i i 11.1 * i .1 i »
, vpon
condicio. After that, he regained without long siege, the tounes of Creile, the bridge of
sainct Maxens, the new toune in Esuioy, Crespy in Valoys, and Cleremout in Beauoys :
and so with greate riches, and fatte prisoners, he returned again to Paris. Thus, pros-
perous successe happened, not to the lorde Talbot alone : but also thesame very sear
son, therle of Arundell, toke the Castle of Botnelyne, and raised it to the ground, and
after, tooke by force the Castle of Doric, and from thence came to sainct Seleryne, where
the lorde Ambrose of Lore, was capitain, which issued out, and fought with the Eng-
lishenien so egerly at the firste, that he droue theim backe an arowe shflt by fine
force.'
-
••-•V
. ' f . •* -
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 171
force. But the Erie so incoraged his men, that they toke newe corages to them, and set
so fiersly on the Frcnchemen, that they slewe a greate nombre, and droue the remnaunt
into the toune.
AFTER this victory, he besieged Louiers, wherof was capitain, the Heire, and hb brother,
which rendered the toune, without stroke or assaute. For all this good lucke, therle forgat
not toreturne, to the toune of S. Seleryne, but assembled a great army, and enuironed the
toune about with a strong siege. Whe he had lien there almoste. iij. rnonethes euery daie at-
temptyng or dooyng somewhat, for the performaunce of his enterprise, in conclusion at
the thre monethesende, he gaue so fierce an assaut, that by force he entred the toune, and
slewe Ihon Allemagne and Gulliam sent Aubyne, the chief capitaines, and. viii.C. other men
of warre, and the Children of the lorde Lore, wer taken captiues: he replenished and fortified
the toune again with newe men, andmunicios, and made there capitain, sir Ihon Cornwale.
Whiche acte thus accomplished, he departed, and came before the strong toune of Sillye, and
there pitched his campe. The inhabitauntes of thesame, somewhat dismaied with the
chaunce that late happened to the toune of. S. Seleryne, deliueredto him pledges, vpon this
condicion: that if thei wer not rescued, within, xxx. daies nexte insuyng, then ihcy, (their
lifes saued) should rendre the toune, into his possession: whiche offre was taken. The capi-
taines within the toune, sent a post to the French kyng, to aduertise hym of their hard
chaunce, which incontinent sent to them, Arthur, Erie of Richemond, (but after some wri-
ters, Ihon duke of Alaunson) with a greate company of men. When therle sawe the
Frenche succors appere, he restored again y pledges to the gouernors of the toune, and
issued out of his campe, takyng a place moste mete and conuenient for to abide battaill, for '
whiche he sore thirsted and longed. The Duke or the Erie, (take whiche you list)
liyng by a brooke side, whiche a man might stride ouer, seyng the Englishemen, so war-
like and strongly embattailed, thought it not for his profile, to gene battaiil, or to sette for-
ward: but in the dedde time of the night, cowardly fled, and with shame returned: although
some Freche writers affirme, that he loked that the erle of Arundell, should haue geuen hym
battaill, and because he profcred not forward, therfore the Frenchmen departed. This ap-
pereth to be an apparaunt lye, and a Frenche bragge: for if they came to rescewe the toune,.
why did not they geue battaill, & so driuc awaie tbenglishmen from the toune? If they came
to fight, why departed they without any stroke striken? But it setneth that thei came, to
make a Frenche face, and for to do nothyng. For thei without skirmishe or succoryng the
toune, departed in the night secretly, (as you haue hearde.) When thei within the tonne
knew, that their succors failed, thei rendred themselfes, to the mercy of therle of Arundel,
which gently receiued the, & leauyng a garrison in the toune, departed to Mauns, and in the
meane waie, tokc the Castles, of Mellay and sainct Laurece. About this tyme, the lord
Willoughby, and sir Thomas Kiriell, returnyng with great victories out of the parties of Bur-
goyue, tooke in their waie, the toune of Louiers, and furnished it, bothe with men, and
munitions.
EMONGEST so many good chaunces, some euill arc accustomed to fall and happen, or
els the gayners,, will not knowe themselfes.. So it happened that a greate nobre, of rude and
rustical persones in Norrnady, dwellyng by y sea coast, either prouoked, or intiscd thenmto,
by the Frenche kyng, or desirous of altcracion and change, (whiche thyng the commerr
people muche couete and desire) made an insurreccion, and put on harneis, & by force ex-
pulsed certain garrisos, out of their houKles, and toke certain tonnes: publishing and pro-
claimyrig opely, that their onely purpose and intent was, to expel and banish, the whole En-
glishe nacion, out of their coutreys and eoastes. Wherfore, it maie euidently appere, that
the blacke Ethyopian, or the blacke coloured rauc, wil soner turne their colours, than the
vniuersal people, bred in Frauce will hartely loue, or inwardly fan or, an Englishe borne child.
And yet, the Normans of long tyme, louingly and gentely, haue obeyed to the 'subjection of
Englande, and haue of the Englishe nacion, been wel accepted and regarded, but now thei,
Z 2 forgettyng
THE. XII. YERE OF
forgettyng their duetie, and remebryng their hurtes, did not doubt, to rebell against theii
prince and soueraigne Lordc.
THIS mischeuous copany, thus frantiquely gathred together, with all spede marched to-
ward Caen, to the intent there, bothe to assemble a greater nornbre ot people, and also to
consult, what way thei should folow in their newe begon atteptate. 13ut the dukes of Yqrke
& Somerset, which then wer liyng in Normandy, hearyng of this vngracious iaccion &
troubelous comocion, & hauyng knowledge by their espials what iorney they intended to take :
incotinent without delay, sent therle of Arundell and the lorde Willoughby, with. vj.M. ar-
chers, and. xiij. hundred light horsses, to staie and kepe them, either for settyng furthe, or
niakyng farther progresse. Therle of Arundell goyng one waie, appoynted the Lorde
Willoughby, with twoo thousande Archers, and a certain nombre of horsemen, to go afore
hym, to lye in watche and stale, secretly by the waie, to stop the iorney and passage of the
rebelles, whe they should approch. The lorde Willoughby, couertly couered hymself and
his company, sendyng worde to the Erie, of the place where he lay, to thentent that he might
make a signe and a token, (when tyme should be most luckey and fortunate,) to inuade &
set on their enemies. Whiche thyng doen, therle folowed at the backe, the ragged route and
mischeuous multitude, as a man, that draue the deare before him into the ImckestalJe, or the
sely coneis into the secrete hay. When the ignoraunt multitude, approched nere to the
place of the stale the Erie made a token, and shot a gonne for a signe. Then the Lorde
Willoughby, set on them before, and the Erie behynde, shotyng so fiersly, that the dastarde
people, partly amased with the sodain chaunce, and partly, galled and wounded with the shot
of the arrowes, threwe awaie their harneis : desiryng nothyng but death. Therle of Arun-
del, (moued with compassi5) caused his souldiors to leaue of £ staye, from farther murther
or bloud shedyng, & apprehendyng such, as he thought, to be the ledars and chief stirrers of
the people, let the other returne home frankly & frely: but yet there were a,M. and more
slain, before the souldiors, could be brought again vnder their standerdes.
AFTER this cominocion appeaced, and the sodain rage in the beginnyng staied and bri-
deled, diliget inquirie was made of the malefactors, and suche as wer found gilty, by diuerse
terrible executions, (accordyng to their desertes,) miserably ended their traiterous lifes.
Duryng which rebellion, Peter Rokefort and his copany, gat by treason the toune of Deape,
& diuerse other houldes, therunto adioynyng. After the Erie of Arundell, had obtained so
many conquestes, and notable victories (as you haue heard) he attempted another, which
was the last worke and extreme labor, of his liuyng daies. For the duke of Bedford, beyng.
informed, that his aduersaries, had sodainly surprised & take the toune of Rue, and therin
had put a garrison, which sore vexed the coutreis of Ponthiew, Arthoys, andBolenoys, sent
word to therie, that he without delaye, should besiege thesaid toune. Therle obeyed to his
comaundement, and incontinent, sente for all the people vnder his gouernaunce, & in his
marchyng forward, came to Gourney, where he heard tel, how y there was a certain Castle,
nere Beaupys, called Gerborye, whiehe either by force of rasyng, or violence of weather,
was .sore decaied and defaced. And because this place was opportune and very necessarie,
to prohibite, let and stop thenglishmen, to make sodain runnynges in, or rodes into the coun-
trey of Beauoys: Charles the Freche kyng commaunded sir Stephen de Veignolles, commonly
calted the Heire, tose the castle reedefied and fortified. Thesaid sir Stephen with a great
company, came to thegrounde, andlackyng neither stuffe necessary, nor artificers sufficient,
in small tyme erected the Castle, and began to defend the fortresse. The erle of Arundell,
beyng crediblie informed of their dooynges, and perceiuyng that this newe edificacion, was
very prejudicial to the Englishe part, determined first to take the. Castle supposyng litle or
no resistence, therin to beshutte vp, but he wasdeceiued, for there was the Heire, with many
good and valeauntecapitaines. The Erie with fiue hundred horsemen, encamped hymself in
a hue close, not farre from the Castle : the Frenchemen, which wer thre thousande men,
perceiuyng that the Erie and his horses werwery, and that his archars wer not yet come, de-
termined for their aduauntage to set on him, before the comyng of his footmen, whiehe they
knewe
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 173
knewe to he-litle more, then a mile behynde the Erie. Wherfore, for a pollicie, they set
furthe fiftie horssemen, as though there were no ino in the Castle. The Erie perceiuyng
that, sent furth sir Randolfe Standishe, to encountre with them, hauyng in his company a
hundred horsses: the Frenchemen fought coragiously a while, and sodainly came out all the
rernnaunte, and slewe sir Randolfe Standishe, and all his company, and boldly set on the
Erie and hisbande, whiche manfully defended them, so that the Frenchmen gatlitle aduaun-
tage, for al their great nombre. The Heire perceiuyng. the hartes, corage and defence of the
Engiishe people, caused thre Culuerynes to be shot emongest theim, wherof, one strake the
Erie 'on the ancle, and so brake his legge, that for pain he fell from his horse, then the
Frenche men entered emongest the Engiishe army, and tooke the erle, beyng on the grounde,
prisoner, and sir Richard Wooduite, and sixe score more, and there wer slain almoste twoo
C. The remnaunt saued them selfes aswel as thei might. The Erie was caried to Beauoys,
vher, of this hurte he shortly died, and was buried in the friers Minors. He was a man of
a singuler vertue, constancie and granitic, whose death in so troubelous a worlde, did sore
appall the hartes of his nacion. By this infortune, Rue was not besieged, nor Gerborie ta-
ken, suche is thechaunce of warre, thus Lady Fortune daily turneth her whiele, and migh-
tie Mars, often varieth his countenaunce, so that one tyme the Englishemen gat by assaut
and yieldyng, diuerse strong tounes, Castles, and piles. At another season, the Frenche
people, somtyme by bargain, somtyme by assaut, obteined thesaid citees and fortificacions
again, or other in their stede. Whiche daily altemptes, lomitandouer passe, because in
the, no notable acte, nor greate Warlike feate was doen or committed. For small thynges,
require litel writyng, and fewe actes, require lesse speakyng. For I assure you,, that he,
which should write the negligent losses, and the pollitique gaines, of enery citee, fortresse,
and turrett, whiche were gotten and loste in these daies, should fatigate and wery the reader,
more with volumes, then queares and the hearer, more with triflyng woordes, then with nota-r
ble matter. Wherfore sithe in all myne authors, I finde no matter, either greatly necessarie,
or muche conuenient to be spoken of concernyng any high enterprise: I therfore, leauyng
bothe the nacions, daily studiyng how to greue, and gain of the other, will turne againe. to.
other thynges accidental! whiche chaunced in this. xii. yere.
ABOVT the moneth of June, Ihon duke of Burbon and Auerne, taken prisoner at:
the battaill of Agyncourte. xviii. yeres paste, (as you haue before heard ) now paiyng his ,
raunsome, whiche was. xviii. M.I. sterlyng and hauyng ready prepared all thynges necessary,
for his triumphaunt returne into his countrey, was taken with a mosle sore and greuous feuerr,
whiche shortely vnbodied.his soule, in the citee of London, on the daie appoynted, for hi&
departure into France: whose corps wasenterred, in the Grey Friers of thesaied citee. So-
by this, euery creature maie se: that man purposeth & God disposeth.. I may not forget a,.
chaunce whiche- happened this yere, to the example of princes, and a spectacle, of. goueniors..
For thedeuill hymself, to set farther diuision betwene the Engiishe and Frenche nacion did
apparell certain catchepoules, and Parasites, comonly called titiuils and tale tellers, tosowe
discord and dissencion, betwene the dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne, not fainyng trifles-
nor phatasies, but tliynges of reproche, repugnant to bothe their honors, estates, and digni-
ties, with the whiche, cache of them was as well pricked, as hastely spurred, so that all loue*
betwene theim ceased, all affinitie was forgotten, and all olde familiaritie was cast by disdain,
into the caue of oblivid. Suche a pestilent breath hath Flattery, and suche mischif ensueth,
of Princes light credence. This grudge was perceiued, by their mutuall frendes, whiche by.
charitable exbortacion and Godly aduertisement, exhorted theim, to renewe their old loue
and familiaritie, and to mete and enteruieu, in some place decent and conuenient. The
Duke of Bedforde, gladly condiscended, to come to sent Omers, beyng the duke of Burgoyns
toune, and thither, accordyng to his appoyntment, he in honorable estate, came and resort-
ed, and likewise did the duke of Burgoyne. The duke of Bedford, beyng Regent of Fraunce,
& sonne, brother and vncle to kynges, though that the duke of Burgoyne, should first haue
visited and saluted him: duke Phillip on. the other part, beyng Lord & soucreigne of the
6 toune,, \
THE. XIII. YERE OF
toune, judged knot mete, nor to stande with his honor, to go to hym, where he was lodged,
but was content, by entreatie of frendes, to mete with him in a place indifferent, betwene
bothe their harberowes : whiche offer was not accepted, & so, bothe parties departed dis-
content, & neuer after sawe or commoned with other. What should I speake of the corage
of these twoo proude princes, the duke of Bedford myndyng to haue no pere, and the duke
of Burgoyne, willyng to haue no superior, by whose proud disdain, and enuious discord,
shortly0 England lost, and Burgoyne gayned not long, as you shall perceiue, in this history
ensuyng.
If THE. XIII. YERE.
rhc.xiii. T[je Bastan'- of Orleaunce, called the erle ef Dumoys, the lorde Rocheford Marshal
yc"' of Frauncc, with other in the beginnyng of this. xiti. yere, tooke the toune of saincte
Denise by treason, and skirmished with theim of Paris, and leauyng behynd hym a greate
garrison, tooke the tonne of Howdone, and the bridge of saincte Maxence by composition,
and at that tyme was taken the toune, of Fount Meulane, by sodain scalyng of twoo
fishermen: which entered vp at a common prime, standyng on the walle. Thus tounes vn-
•walied, wer preys to rauenous men of war, so that the poore inhabitauntes within theim,
(not bcyng able to kepc their fidelitie or allegeaunce, when sheilde and defence lacked,)
were constrayned and compelled, to yeilde and rendre theimselfes, to the more power, and
vpper hande: least they beyng nedy and innocente people, should be vexed and lurmcnted,
with the vnreasonable men of warre: So that in all Cliristendome, no Region was more vn-
quiete, more vexed, more poore, nor more to be pitied, then the coutrey of Frauce. And
although the rude and poore people, suffrcd many plagues and aduersities : yet the souldiora
prospered not in all thynges. For although prey & spoyle sometyme refreshed their mindes,
and did comfort their stomackes, yet some tyme they wer slain, taken, and licked vp, or tiiei
were ware. For eucry prince studied, and circumspectly compassed, how to kepe, defende
and releue, the citees and tounes, of their seuerall faction, and priuate fidelitie. Wheifore,
when sacietie of slaughters, and abounclaunce of murthers, had replenished the stomackes, of
bolhc the nacions, and that bothe m general!, perceiuecl their hurtes, pondered tlieir losses,
and considered tlieir ruynes, and daily afflictions: although their stomackes wer haute, and
their hartes stony, yet they waxed sot'te, priuely inclinyng to peace, and wishyng concord,
and not without an vrgente cause: For all thynges necessary to mans liuvn«, penurie
shewed her self furth, and aboundauce was hidden in a caue. The corne feldes laie vntilled
the meddowos wer ouer trodcn, the woodes wer spoyled, so that all men went to harneis,
and no man to the plough. The churches were seldome vsed for denocion, but many
tyemes spoyled, for desire of gayne. These, and suche innumerable mischiefcs, caused
bothe the people, bcyng enemies, to desire peace, and yet the one part, disdained opely to
offre it, or the other priuatly to receiue it.
THE crie and noyse of this perillous and insatiable warre, was blasted through Europe,
detested through Cliristendome, and especially, at the Counsaill of Basill, where then them-
ptror Alberte, and all the princes and potestates of Cliristendome, or their deputies, were
assembled, for the vnio of the vngraciousscisme, in the vsurped sea of Rome vntrulv, and
•against all scripture, called sainct Peters sea. Wherfore the Emperor and the temporall
princcis, stipposyng the exhortation of Spirituall fathers, should more profite emongest the
twoo high stonyicked, and proude encoraged nacions, of Englande and of Fraunce, dcsyred
Eugeny then bishop of Rome, to be the author and arbitrer, of that great strife and conten-
•cion: so that by his meanes, counsail and.' exhortation, the weapon might be taken out of
the handes, of twoo so inuincible nacions, which neuer would yeild or bowe the one to the
other, neither yet, once heare of abstinence of fightyng, or refusyng from warre: so much
were their hartes hardened, and so princely were theh- stomackes. And one thyng, muche
put
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 175
put them in hope, of some good conclusio, because the duke of Burgoyn was willyng, (so
that it wer not of his awne suite,) to returns and reconcile himself, to Charles, his mortal
cnemie and auncient aduersary. Wherforc, by authentic of this generall Counsaill, two
discrete persones, called the Cardinalles of sainct Crosse, & Cypres, came to the tonne of
Arras in Arthoys, whither, were sente for the kyng of Englande, Henry Beautfbrd Cardinall
of Winchester, Henry, Archebishopof Yorke, Willifi de la Pole Erie of Suffolke, and Jhon
Hollande Erie of Huntyngdon, with diuerse other knightes and Esquiers :. and for the
Frenche kyng, were there present, Charles Duke of Burbon, Lewes Erie of Vandosme, Ar-
thur of Brytayne Constable of Fraunce, the Archcbishop of Reyns, and sir Phillip Harcort.
There, was the duke of Burgoyne, in proper persone, accompanied with the duke of Gel-
deps, and the Erles of Estampes, Lygnye, sainct Panic, Vaudemont, Neuers, £ Daniel.,
sonne to the prince of Orange, with a great gard and a gallaunt company.
VPON the daie of the first session, the Cardinal of sainct Crosse, declared to the thfe
parties, the innumerable mischiefes, the multitude of incouenienccs, whichc had succcded,
through al Christendom, by their daily discord and continuall discencion : exhorting and, re-
quiring the for the honor of God, for the lone that they bare to thesettyng furthe of Christes
religion, and for the aduaucement, of the publique wealth of all Christendo, that they would
laye all rancor apart, represse all wrath and anger, and conform thernselfes to reason, and to
Godly concorde, by the vvliiche, they should receiue, honor, profite, and continual}' quiet-
nesse, in the worlde, and of God, a reward euerlastyng. After whiche admoniciony thus to
them geuen, and after diuerse daies of communicacion, eucry part brought in their de-
itiaund, whiche wer moste contrary, and hard to come to a good conclusion. The En-
glishemen required, that kyng Charles should haue nothyng, but at the handeof the kyng of
Englande, and that not as duetie, but as a bencfite, by hym of his mere liberalise geuen, and
distributed, to whiche the Frenchmen aunswered, that kyng Charles would haue the kyno;-
dom, frakely & frely, without begging it, of another man: requiryng the kyng of England,
to leaue the name, Armes, and title of the kyng of Eraunce, and to be co,ntent with the
dukedornes of Aquitain andNormady, and to forsake Paris, and all the tounes, whiche thev
possessed in Fraunce, bet\vene the Hiuers of Loyre and Soame, beyng no percell of the
Duchie of Normandy, The Englishemen, loth to lease so good a boty as Paris, did not
esteme and allowe, the demaundcs of the French Ambassadors and they on the otlierside,
couetyngand desiryng, toobtein again the renoume and glory of their Region, whiche was
Paris, would in no wise condiscend, to any part of the Englishe requestes. Thus, the pride
of the one part, and the ambicion of the oilier, letted concord, peace, and quietnes. The
Cardinals, seyng the frostie hartes, and hardened myridcs of bothe parties, determined not,
to despute th« titles, but offered to them, honest and reasonable coudicions, of truce and
peace, for a season: whiche articles bothe parties, either for frowardnes, or for disdain open-
ly refused : In so muche as, the Englishmen in greate displeasure, departed to Calice, and
so into Englande. One writer affinneth, that they beyng warned of a secrete conspiracie
moued against theim, sodainly remoued from Arras, and so sailed' into their countrey.
WHILES this treatie of peace, was thus in comunicacion at Arras, the lorde Talbot,
the Lorde Willoughby, the lorde Scales, vvitli the Lorde Lisle Adame, and fiue thonsande
men, besieged the tonne of S. Denise, with a strong bande. The Erie of Dumoys hear-
yng therof, accompanied with the Lorde Lohac, and the lorde Bueiil, & a great company
of horsemen, haisted thitherward, to rayse the siege, and in the meane waie, they encoun-
tered with sir Thomas Kiricll, and Matthew Gouthe, ridyng also toward S. Denise, be-
twene whom, was a great conflict, and many slain on bothe parties: but sodainly came to
the aide of the Frenchmen, the garrison of Pout Melance, which caused thenglishe-
men to returne, without any greatarme or damage, sauyng that Matthew Couth, by foun-
deryng of his horsse, was taken and caried to' Fount Melance. Duryng whiche fight, the
toune of sainct Denise, was rendered to the iorde Talbot, and the other lordcs, whiche
caused all the walles to be raised, and abated doune to the ground, sauyng the \valles of
1 the
176 THE. Xm. YERE OF
the Abbay, and a toure called Venyn. After this toune gotten, the Lorde Wiliotighby,
left sir Ihon Ruppelley at Pounthoyse, & departed to gouerne Paris, whiche then began
to smoke, and sone after, brast out' in flame, (as yeu shall shortly, apparautly perceiue).
After whose departure, thenhabitaines of Pounthoyse rebelled, & droue out thenglishmeu
by very force, and rendered themselfes subiectes to king Charles. This toune was small,
but the losse was great, for it was the very conuenient kaye, betwene Paris and Nonnandy,
so that now the gate betwene them bothe, was set open and the passage at large.
LET vs now again, returne to the counsail at Arras. After the Englishe Ambassadors
wer departed, the 'prenchemen and the fiurgonyons, began familiarly to common of a peace,
and talke of an amitie, to the whiche motion, Phillip duke of Burgoyne, was neither deiffe
nor straunge : for he in the begmnyng of his rule, being muche desirous to reuenge and
punishe the shamefull murder doen to his father, and to kepe hymself in his high estate,
and preeminence, began to be associate, and to reigne with thenghshe power, and to serue
the kyng of Englad thinking, that by his amity and ioynyng, that he should neither harme
nor hurte, the common wealth of the countrey, whereof at that tyme he bare the whole
rule, nor yet lose one iote or poynt, of his authoritie, or gouernaunce. But when it hap-
pened, contrary to his expectacion, that the kyng of Englande, by the right course of in-
heritaunce, tooke vpou hym the whole rule and gouernaunce, within the realrne of Fraunce,
and ordered by the aduise of his cousaill, all causes, iudgementes, warres, and c5cordes,
& that the duke Judged, that he was not had in great confidence, nor in perfite truste, as
he thought, because the Duke of Bedforde, would not suffre the toune of (Meaunce, to
be rendered to hym, (as you before haue heard) : He therfore imagined, & determined with
hymself, to returne into the pathe again, from the whiche he had straied and erred, and to
take part, and ioyne with his awne bloud and nacion: so that some honest meane, might be
sought by other, and not by hymself, least paraduenture by his awne sekyng, he might bind
himself in conditions hurtfull, & sore inconueniences, to the Frenche kyng, and also be
noted of vntruth, and traiterous behauor, toward the king of Englande and his nacion : to
•whom he had done homage, leage, and sworn fealtie Now this Counsaill, was to hym a
cloke for the rayne, as who should say, tliat he sought not arnitie, of the Freche kyng,
(whiche thyng in his harte, he moste coueted and desired) but was therunto persuaded, by
the general! counsaill, and by the bishop of Rome, whom it was reason, in all honest re-
questes, that he should submitte hymself, and humbly obey. And so, shadowed with this
counsaill, without long argument or prolongyng of tyme, he tooke a determinate peace,
and a finall conclusion, vpon these condicios: that he should haue to hym deliuered, the
counteis of Arthoys, Pontbiew, and Bullonoys, and the tounes of Amience, Curby, Mon-
didier, Heron,.^sainct Quintyne, & Abbeuile, with many other seigniories, & superiorities,
•whiche be not for my purpose to reherse. Prouided alwaie, that the French kyng, paiyng
in redy money, to y duke or his heires, iiij.C.M. crounes, should haue thesaied tounes and
countres, to beredeliuered again : and many other thynges, the Frenche kyng graunted, , to
the duke of Burgoyn, whiche after, he was not able to performe, nor accomplishe, for he
had no power, to make deniall to the duke, of any demaund or request, whiclie the Duke
either phantasied or moued : as who would saie, that he thought in himself, that suche an
aduersary, whiche desired so honest, and so reasonable conditions, (considering the state
of the tyme, and the occasion, of concorde, moste apparauntly offered to hym,) oudit nei-
ther to be refused nor cast away, the whiche chaunce, .was to hym lucky and fortunate : for
surely, y thyng forsene and loked for, surceded and toke place, as you shall perceiue. This
concorde, was so pleasaunt to the Frenche kyng, that he not only set for hym: but as a
swane that swimmeth after_her make, met hym in proper persone, at the citee of Reynes
and (after long comunicatio) standing vp vpo his fete, said to him these wordes.
JfthT" .DVKE Philhpp cosin, and pere of Fraunce, with all my harte welcome, and-at your com-
Fr«,ch mmg, my harte is fulfilled with ioy, and my spirites be refreshed with solace, for now all
Kyngtof,he doubte of the rec0uery, of my lande and seigniory, is clerely banished, and fully abandoned :
Bursoyn<- consideryng
KYNG HENUY THE. VI. 177
consideryng that I haue now, ioyned and vnited to me, the principall pere, the moste noble
prince, (nexte to the Croune) and the moste valeaunt capitain, that hath been, or is, in our
dales, sene, or knowen, whom the nobilitie honor, the chiualrie fauor, and the poore con>
mons loue, and daily desire to beholde : So that all men loue, and embrace you, aboue all
creatures, and worship and reuerence you, aboue all Lordes, because you, beyng a straiyng
shepe, are now returned, to your olde flocke, and like a man wanderyng out of the pathe»
are now brought again, to the right waie, and true liniite. For surely, this text was euer
beaten muche in my hedde: that euery realme, deuided emongest theimselfe, should turne
to desolacio, and that all discord, should bring pouertie, and that of all discension, should
succeade misery : whiche intollerable calamities, I euer Judged to ensue, by the discorde
and contrauersie, betwene vs twoo. But now the sore is cured, and the ship brought into the
sure hauen : trustyng perfectly, and nothyng mistrustyng, but by your healp and aide, we shall
expell, cleane pull vp by the rootos, and put out, all the Englishe nacion, out of our realmes,
territories and dominions. And if you helpe vs. (as you male) and if you aide vs, (as you
be able) we here promise you, in the tvorde of a prince, to be yours, yea, so yours, that al
ours, shalbe yours, at your commaundement and desire, not as ours, but as yours, to doo and
spende at your pleasure. To the whiche, the duke of Burgoyn aunswered, that he would
let scape nothyng, that appertayned to his duetie, nor forget any poynt, whiche might turne
to his dishonor.
WHEN this league wassworne, and this knot was knit, the duke of Burgoyne, to sette a
vayle, before the kyng of Englaudes iyes, sent Thoison Dor, his kyng at Armcs, to kyng
Henry with letters: that he, beyng not only waxed faint, and weried, with continual warre,
and daily conflictes, but also chafed daily, with complaintes and lamentacion, of his people,
whiche, of the Frenchemen, suffered losse and detriment, embraydyng and rebukyng hym
openly, affirming that he onely was the supporter and mainteyner, of the Englishe people,
and that by his meanes and power, the mortall warre was continued and sette forward, and
that he more diligetly studied, and intentiuely toke pain, bothe to kepe, and maintein then-
glishemen in Fraunce, and also toaduaiice and promote their desires, & intentes, rather then
to restore kyng Charles his cosyn, to his rightful inheritaunce, £ paternal possession : by reason
of whiche thynges, and many other, he was in maner compelled and constrained to take a
peace, and conclude an amitie with kyng Charles, exhortyng kyng Henry, with many flatteryng
wordes, when honest and reasonable condicions wer offered, to take the, and to make an ende of
the warre, which so long had continued, to the decay of bothe the realmes, and to the effusion,
of Christen bloud, be side the great displeasure of almightie God, whiche is the author of
peace and vnitie: promising hym his aide, and furtheraunce in that behalfe, with many glo-
syng and flatteryng wordes, whiche I passe ouer.
HERE is to be noted, that the Duke of Burgoyne, which thought hymself by this concord
in maner dishonored, and spotted with infamy sente his letters to the Kyng of Englandc,
rather to purge and excuse hymselfe, of his vntruth and infidelitie, (yea of perinry, if a
poore man maie vse that terme, of so greate a prince) to thentent that it should appere,
that he, by copulsion, and not by voluntarie afteccion, was turned to the French part: not
for any malice or displeasure, whiche he bare to kyng Henry, or to the Englishe nacion. This
letter was not alitle loked on, nor smally regarded of the kyng of England, and his sage coii-
saill: not onely for the waightines of the matter, but also for the sodaiu chaunge of the man,
& for the strange superscripcion of the letter, which was: To the high and mightie Prince,
Henry, by the grace of GOD Kyng of Englande, his Welbeloued cosyn : Neither namyng
hym kyng of Fraunce, nor his souereigne lorde, accordyng as, (euer before that tyme) he
was accustomed to do. Wherfore all they, whiche wer present, beyng sore moued with the
craftie deede, Sc vntrue demeanor of the duke, (whom they so muche trusted) could neither
temper their passions, nor moderate their yre, nor yet bridle their toungues : but openly call-
ed hym traytor, deceiuer, and moste inconstant prince. But when the rumor of the Dukes re-
turnyng, was published emongest the common people, they lefte woodes and went to stripes: for
A a they
178 THE. XIIIJ. VERE OF
they beyng moued and pricked, with this vnliappie tidynges, ran fiersiy vpon all the Flem-
vn^es Hollanders, and Burgonyons, which then inhabited within the cilee of London, and the
suburbes of thesame, and sleweand hurte, agreate nombre of them, before they, by the kynges
proclamacion, could be prohibited, to leaue of and abstain, from sucb violence, and iniimous
doyng: for the kyng nothyng more mynded, then to saue innocent bloud, and defend e them,
whiche had not offended.
AFTER the letter twise redcle, and wisely brooked, he willed the officer at Armes, to tell
his master, that it was not conuenient, nor honorable for hym, to be ene.nie to the Englishe
nncion, without cause or occasion geuen, but his duetie, (all thynges consydered) was to
haue kept his auncient truthe and oulde allegeaiice, rather then to be the occasion, of nevve
warre and freashe discencion: aduertisyng hym farther, that it was not the poynt of a wise
ma, to leaue and let passe, the certain for the vncertain, admonishyng hym also, not to myn-
gle and mixte his safetie and surenesse, with the vnstablenesse and vnsuretie of his newe
alye, and cosyn, kyng Charles When the messenger was departed, the kyng of England
arid his counsaill, thought and determined, to worke some displeasure to the duke, ami to
set some conspiracie, against hym in his awne coutrey. Wherfore by rewardes, they did
suborne and corrupt certain gouernors and rulers, of tounes and cities, within the dukes
countreis and dominios, (which nacions surely, be euer procliue & ready, to commocion and
rebellion.) Hut the Gantoys, whiche of that feate euer bare the bell, and wer the common
rysers, against their souereigne lordes, some of them imagenyng, that the power of the En-
glishmen, was not long like to continue, within the realme of France, more for feare, then
loue of their Duke, sat still and mooed not, but let other tounes alone, whiche sore troubled
the Dukes wittes, and agreate while, did disquiet and ve 
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